Chapter 116: Buddy’s Confidence

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Buddy’s Confidence

Although Shen Yun had zero interest in this person’s capitalist rhetoric, he didn’t think the man was a fool. As the heir to an arms dealer family, even if he didn’t have a clear grasp of his own company’s current situation, he would have plenty of smart people analyzing it for him.

In today’s world, nearly ninety percent of all countries had joined the "Spiritual Power Era Joint Community," covering over ninety-seven percent of the globe’s territory. So why hadn’t the rest joined? It wasn’t because they didn’t want to, but because they didn’t dare. During the dawn of the Spiritual Qi revival, these Cultivators had used military force to carve out and occupy chaotic territories. They were the very first enemies the Community planned to purge after its establishment.

Grote, however, didn’t just engage in deep weapon-trading cooperation with these rogue Cultivators. The company itself continuously kidnapped top-tier scientists, violently plundered the technology of others, and manufactured and stockpiled all kinds of highly lethal weapons. They were essentially enemies of the entire world.

Under such circumstances, for him to dare show up at Shen Yun’s door and boast about becoming the richest man in the world—he obviously held a trump card.

Hearing Shen Yun’s inquiry, Lu Hang didn’t hide anything. Instead, he dismissed the others, as what he was about to say was classified information.

"This company has occupied an island in international waters. After three years of development, it has been transformed into an airtight military base. The Community has been doing everything in its power to infiltrate and investigate. However, their defenses are extremely tight, their technology is highly advanced, and they have basically every type of military weapon imaginable," Lu Hang said, revealing everything he knew. "So far, the information obtained through infiltration is very limited."

"No wonder he had the guts to send someone to infiltrate my home..." Shen Yun sneered. "An ordinary Golden Core Cultivator indeed wouldn’t dare to directly invade a military base."

How did the Azure Emperor die? He was blown to pieces by missiles. Back when Ludwig threatened the world’s leading superpower, he seemed incredibly imposing, but in reality, he had only slipped into a poorly defended city, taken the citizens hostage, and used a time limit to restrict military action. If high-explosive missiles had actually arrived, even a Bone Dragon would have been blasted to dust.

However—

"His enemy isn’t me." Shen Yun still furrowed his brows, somewhat puzzled. "If a Golden Core Cultivator doesn’t dare to attack, wouldn’t an army? Or... are you worried about the safety of those scientists?"

"That’s part of the reason," Lu Hang said with a bitter smile. "According to statistics and estimates, there are at least two hundred professor-level scientists on that island right now, including many national treasures. If something were to happen to them, it would truly be a massive shock to the scientific community. The loss would be catastrophic."

The kidnapping of scientists mostly occurred during the first two years of the Spiritual Qi revival, and primarily overseas. Domestically, scientists were essentially rounded up and protected the moment the Spiritual Qi revival began, coupled with tight security. Overseas, however, a significant number of top scientists actually worked for private companies and university research institutes. Their protection details were relatively scattered, and at first, they hadn’t even realized the severity of the issue.

"Is that so..." Shen Yun murmured. "Then what’s your plan?"

"Our current plan is still to apply pressure," Lu Hang answered truthfully. "Since he wants to make money, he can’t do so without the Community’s permission. Frankly, given the equipment on that island, unless we carpet-bomb the place to the ground, the price of a forced assault wouldn’t be small."

Grote had originally been a top-tier arms company. They had participated in the development of many powerful weapons in the modern world. And over the past three years, that island had indeed become a heavily fortified hedgehog. If one tried to take a bite out of it, they would definitely end up with bloody scratches—and they had to be careful that the hedgehog didn’t crush the precious treasures in its mouth in the process.

"Even with the revival of Spiritual Qi, we can’t underestimate science." Shen Yun shook his head, then revealed a confident smile. "If you guys aren’t sure you can take it down, just try your best to stall and keep things stable. In half a year at most, I’ll step into the Void God Stage."

"I’ll pass that up the chain of command," Lu Hang nodded.

Even without Shen Yun mentioning it, they would certainly take that into consideration. When it came to rescuing hostages, an elite infiltration operation held a much higher chance of success. Cultivators still had many miraculous methods they hadn’t yet revealed to the world.

After asking a few more questions, Shen Yun finally let Lu Hang leave, having him take the laptop he had destroyed along with him.

Only Shen Yun and Xiao Jiu were left in the room once again.

"Xiao Jiu, is the house clear?" Shen Yun looked around.

"I’ve already checked. There are no signs of anything being rummaged through, and Xiao Jiu has completely erased their auras," Xiao Jiu said with a definitive tone, then added softly, "What is Master planning to do? If it were Xiao Jiu, infiltrating the place shouldn’t be a problem."

When it came to computer technology, Xiao Jiu was an invincible existence. Coupled with her ability to transform into a smartphone, she had countless ways to infiltrate such an island. They couldn’t possibly guard against smartphones, after all.

But after thinking for a moment, Shen Yun shook his head. "Someone who arrogantly thinks he can make an enemy of the entire world is basically already a dead man. I’m in no rush. Let’s first see how he plans to become the richest man in the world."

"Understood." Xiao Jiu’s eyes lit up, her gaze full of admiration as she looked at Shen Yun. "Let him succeed first, and then plunge him into despair? Is that the proper punishment he deserves for angering Master?"

"Uh..." Shen Yun was left speechless.

He just found it a bit of a headache; after all, it was a highly advanced military base. To be on the safe side, it would be better to wait until Xiao Jiu reached the Void God Stage.

"Let Xiao Jie and the others out," Shen Yun said, shaking his head. "Oh, right, don’t tell Xiao Jie about this. He’d be angry about it for a long time."

"Isn’t it only right for him to be angry on Master’s behalf? Even Xiao Jiu hasn’t calmed down yet." Xiao Jiu pouted slightly, but she nodded anyway.

Once Xiao Jie and Erin came out, the house returned to its usual atmosphere. Xiao Jie went back into his room to cultivate, Erin rolled around on the floor hugging her beloved plush pillow, and whenever Xiao Jiu wasn’t cooking or doing chores, she clung to Shen Yun’s side.

Finally, one week later.

Grote’s new product launch event began. It was held on his island. No journalists were invited; it was exclusively broadcast live over the internet.

Shen Yun... did not watch it.

What was there to watch? He had no interest in watching someone else grandstand. When it was over, he could simply have Xiao Jiu summarize the important information for him.

In reality, however, this new product launch had already caused a massive uproar across the globe. Because this product was practically a perpetual motion machine! To be precise, it was a device that could extract Spiritual Qi from the air and convert it into usable energy! This meant that as long as Spiritual Qi was present, there would be no shortage of power. Its energy efficiency far surpassed that of solar power, even reaching a level where it could easily satisfy the vast majority of civilian energy demands, such as powering automobiles!

He wasn’t wrong in the slightest. This would be a revolution. A cross-era revolution!

"Following the Steam Age and the Electrical Age, the true Spiritual Qi Era has arrived! Energy changes lives, and energy is the future!" Buddy stood in the live video feed wearing a sharp suit, his expression filled with undisguised smugness and excitement. He held up a crystal-clear, ink-black crystal. "All the secrets of the Spiritual Power Furnace are inside this, but this technology belongs solely to me!

"I am well aware that there are those who wish to extend their greedy hands toward my company.

"But if you dare to come, if you dare to try and steal what is mine—"

The camera feed suddenly cut to a heavily guarded scientific research base. In conspicuous spots all along the walls, explosive warning signs were plastered everywhere.

Buddy’s voice spoke in a voiceover.

"Then I will destroy everything. The new era will slip right through our civilization’s fingers. I can guarantee that for at least a century, you will not be able to achieve what I have. You will become sinners against human civilization!"

This was his trump card. His hostages had never been the scientists. His hostage was this technology—this era-changing technology!

Just imagine. If the omnipresent Spiritual Qi could be used as a universal energy source and enter millions of households, even ordinary people would be able to enjoy the benefits of cheap power. Taking it a step further, the emergence of a new, highly efficient energy source would ripple into countless aspects of modern civilization, including weaponry, transportation, and aviation!

The netizens watching the live stream were completely blown away.

"Holy shit! If I install one in my car, does that mean I’ll never have to buy gas again?"

"It’s true! Spiritual Qi is everywhere. Why hasn’t anyone thought of utilizing it just like solar energy before?"

"To the guy above me, it’s not that no one thought of it. They probably just couldn’t make it work."

"I’m suddenly really looking forward to the future!"

"If that’s the case, Cultivators won’t be the only ones who can use Spiritual Qi. This really is a boon to civilization. His merit is boundless!"

"Badass! That’s even more badass than Perfected Thunder!"

"Am I the only one who noticed that he’s actually provoking the entire world...?"

For ordinary people, Buddy’s desire to keep this technology firmly grasped in his own hands wasn’t much of a concern. In their eyes, when a new product was created, someone was bound to make money off it. The more incredible the product, the richer someone would get—that was only natural. Therefore, they mostly cared about what kind of benefits this so-called Spiritual Power Furnace could bring to them and to the world.

However, smart people realized the truth. This was a fucking new energy source! There wasn’t a single usable energy source in the world completely monopolized by a single company or faction!

If Buddy truly succeeded in completely monopolizing the energy industry of the future era, his company would undoubtedly become the wealthiest company on the globe, bar none. The ripple effects brought about by such staggering wealth were unimaginable. He could use the accumulated capital to penetrate every sector. He could acquire ultimate power by monopolizing energy. His name would be deeply engraved into everyone’s lives, cementing him as the Father of the New Era—glorious and incomparably great.

In comparison, what did a Golden Core powerhouse amount to? He didn’t value Shen Yun’s current meager strength at all; he only valued Shen Yun’s future. But even if future powerhouses were far stronger than those of the present, by that time, he would have long since used his massive capital to make himself indispensable. Who would care how he made his fortune then?

Such a future! Such power! It was enough to make him risk the gamble—gambling that the nations of the world wouldn’t choose mutual destruction where everyone lost everything, but would instead compromise with him.

Not to mention—

He had a secret. A massive secret.