Chapter 747 - 469: Conditions and Meeting

Chapter 747: Chapter 469: Conditions and Meeting

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"What are you two doing?"

Space rippled like the surface of water as Tang Ling appeared out of thin air. She tilted her head, her expression one of pure curiosity as she gazed at the two people on the throne, who were breathing softly.

Li Xiye was straddling Zhou Chen, resting with her head on his shoulder. Tang Ling’s sudden appearance made her jump, and she subconsciously pulled a blanket from a Storage Artifact to cover herself. A burning heat immediately flushed her face.

"Looks like I came at a bad time?" Tang Ling blinked, looking the picture of innocence.

Zhou Chen started to speak, then stopped. He had specifically set up a Barrier in the Royal Palace, yet Tang Ling had still managed to barge in. ’With her power, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t on purpose...’

"Ahem... Is there something you need?"

"I’m here to let you know there’s a multi-party conference at two this afternoon. Remember to dress formally."

"A multi-party conference?"

Zhou Chen froze. "Who will be there?"

Tang Ling started counting on her fingers. "The five major Churches, the Dawn Church, Southern Shipping, Northern Mining, the Alchemy Association, the Forging Association... Basically all of the world’s most powerful corporations and organizations are coming. Plus seven national presidents... Oh, right, Erin’s parents are also coming with the president of the Laine Republic. I booked a table for four for you at a restaurant in the Satellite City for dinner. You’re welcome."

!!!

Zhou Chen’s eyes went wide in shock. "Something this important, and you’re only telling me now?"

Any single one of those representatives was a true heavyweight, and getting them all together for a meeting was an incredibly rare event. The last time they all gathered was probably for the end of the world... And for such a critical meeting, he, the host, was only finding out a few hours in advance!

"Calm down. The Star Association has it all arranged. I even prepared a fool-proof guide for you. When the time comes, you just have to read from the script, sign a bunch of documents, shake hands with the representatives, and you’ll be done."

’You make it sound so simple...’ Zhou Chen asked, "What’s the main agenda for the meeting?"

"Gaia’s development prospects and things like that. But of course, the most important thing is the Prayer System. That’s the main reason they’re all here."

By now, the Authority Zhou Chen possessed was no longer a secret. Thanks to the operations of the Thirteenth District, the leadership of every major global organization knew of his Ability, and now they were all scrambling to get here, flocking to him in droves.

All just for a sip of the broth.

Tang Ling sat on the armrest of the throne and pulled a tablet out of thin air, and related documents began scrolling across the screen.

"First up is the Life Church. They’ve agreed to let the Prayer System into the global healthcare system. Priority will be given to groups like the critically ill, the chronically ill, and the disabled. If the results are good, they’ll expand access further.

That alone is enough to get your heart racing, isn’t it?"

It was more than just getting his heart racing.

Zhou Chen felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest.

Entering the global healthcare system... What did that even mean?

Take cancer, for example. Last year, the number of new cancer patients worldwide had decreased compared to previous years, but it still reached as high as 9 million. Adding in patients from prior years, the total number was around 50 million people.

In the New Era, the incidence of cancer was decreasing year by year, and it wasn’t incurable. However, the medical expenses required for a complete cure were astronomical. According to big data, 70% of cancer patients came from third-world countries and had virtually no way to afford treatment costs. In reality, over 95% of all cancer patients could only wait for death. Those who could afford treatment were, after all, a tiny minority.

For many, waiting for death wasn’t actually the terrifying part. What was truly terrifying was the "cancer pain" that came with it.

The medical community divides pain into levels from 0 to 10. Cancer pain can reach the highest level, a 10.

Experiencing that kind of pain for even just a few hours was an ordeal, yet cancer patients had to endure that torment day and night. It was relentless, constantly worsening, with no end in sight. That experience was enough to make anyone understand the value of life and health, and it was enough to push their will to live to the absolute maximum.

The Prayer System, however, could give them a chance.

A chance to live.

They only needed to make a wish. All their pain would be soothed, and all their suffering would vanish like smoke. The price was negligible—nothing more than the intense desire to live that filled their hearts.

If fifty million cancer patients could all be cured, the amount of prayer value he would gain would be an absolutely astronomical figure.

And that was just from cancer patients.

"Of course, the Life Church has its conditions. They want three True Gods, ten Demigods, twenty Crowned Kings, fifty Uncrowned, and three thousand Ascender awakening slots per year. What do you think?"

In the silence, Zhou Chen stared in disbelief.

"That’s all???"

’This... What’s the difference between this and having no conditions at all?’

Once the system was integrated into global healthcare, it would take a month... no, half a month, or maybe just a week to easily fulfill those demands. He’d even have a surplus!

Tang Ling shrugged. "This was probably the most they could think to ask for."

Just the three True God slots probably had the Life Church’s upper echelons deliberating for a long time. After all, those were Gods, not cabbages on the street. They might even think their conditions were a bit too steep.

In reality, they weren’t high at all. They were so low as to be practically nonexistent.

"Once the Prayer System is connected to the global healthcare system, you should be able to achieve divinity, right?" Li Xiye asked.

"Not necessarily." Zhou Chen shook his head.

"After cultivating these past few days, I’ve realized the next part of the path can’t be skipped with a single wish. I can only climb the Ascension Ladder step by step. So the timing for my Ascension to Divinity is still an unknown, but it will definitely be soon."

Tang Ling thought for a moment. "You can’t wish for your own Ascension to Divinity. But what if I made a wish to you, and the content of the wish was for you to become a God? Could you grant it?"

"Trying to exploit a bug, are we," Zhou Chen commented dryly, then shook his head. "No, that won’t work. No wish of that nature can take effect. The only way is to keep climbing the ladder by granting other wishes."

"Then it’ll definitely be fast. Once the Prayer System is connected to the healthcare system, you’ll be able to grant the wishes of hundreds of millions of patients. You’ll fly up the Ascension Ladder. Even the Goddess of Life didn’t save that many people during her own Ascension to Divinity," Tang Ling said.

"I hope so."

"Well... I won’t disturb you two any longer. You can continue. Just don’t forget the time."

"Oh, and one more thing..."

As if suddenly remembering something, Tang Ling leaned over and gave Zhou Chen a quick kiss. MWAH. Under Li Xiye’s stunned gaze, she swept back her metallic silver hair and smiled. "You fulfilled your promise, so I’ll fulfill mine. I’m free for the next few nights. Contact me anytime. It’s about time we got to know each other... more intimately."

With that, she vanished.

Li Xiye pouted. "Tonight with Erin, tomorrow night with Tang Ling, the night after with Jiang Che... you really are a busy man."

"Well..." Zhou Chen asked tentatively, "How about... all together?"

Li Xiye shook her head. "Let’s talk about that later. They need time to accept it."

"Alright, let’s not waste any more time. Let’s continue."

"Oh, right..."

·

「At two in the afternoon, the conference began.」

Three hours later, the conference concluded successfully. With the signing of one document after another, all parties got what they wanted.

"Mr. Zhou Chen, on behalf of all patients, I would like to offer you my sincerest gratitude."

As the meeting broke up, the representative from the Life Church found Zhou Chen and shook his hand solemnly. "Hundreds of millions of lives and families will be saved because of you," he said earnestly.

"We’re all just getting what we need. But of course, I also hope the patients can be freed from their suffering." Zhou Chen paused for a moment. "I actually have a question."

"Please, ask."

"If I cure the patients, the Life Church’s prestige, income, and other aspects will surely be affected, right? Why did you agree so readily?"

The representative replied, "The founding principle of the Life Church is to heal the sick and save lives, not to accumulate wealth or create a religious monopoly. Right now, there is an opportunity to free everyone from suffering, so why wouldn’t we seize it? Besides, the conditions offered are generous. It’s a win for us, a win for you, and a win for all the patients in the world. Since everyone wins, there’s no need to focus on trivial things like prestige and money."

"It seems I was being shallow." Zhou Chen looked as though he had been taught a lesson.

"Time is short, so I must return to direct the related matters. Farewell."

"Goodbye."

After seeing off the representatives one by one, Zhou Chen finally came face-to-face with the people who made his scalp tingle in apprehension.

—Erin and her parents!