Understanding Ying Chen's plan, Min Ziqiong no longer harbored doubts or surprise. Instead, she bowed deeply to Ying Chen, "Thank you, Mr. Ying, for your trust and support. With the Mirage Realm in my hands, I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly and live up to its reputation!"
Ying Chen had invested tens of billions for the Mirage Realm, not including its intrinsic value.
It was akin to a boss entrusting an employee with full resources to lead a project. If the employee failed, they would be worse than Ah Dou, who couldn't be helped.
At least during Ah Dou's tenure, the Shu kingdom had not regressed, merely unable to withstand the fate of its demise due to the grand tide of history.
Ah Dou could not be solely blamed for his lack of ability.
Min Ziqiong did not wish to become the "Ah Dou" of future gossip. She silently resolved to make the Mirage Realm a success, even if it meant foregoing food, sleep, and rest!
Min Ziqiong placed great importance on the Mirage Realm, but unbeknownst to her, Ying Chen was not overly concerned.
To Ying Chen, the Mirage Realm was merely a tool for accumulating wealth.
It was not a foundation for survival.
Ying Chen's ultimate goal was to convert the wealth accumulated through such means into usable resources when the spiritual energy recovery arrived.
Of course, the Mirage Realm also served a crucial purpose: to win over a group of wealthy tycoons who feared death.
Especially those tycoons whose lifespans were nearing their end, yet were unwilling to depart.
Once they learned of a product that could extend their lives, they would immediately leap from their sickbeds and spare no effort or cost to obtain it!
At that point, Ying Chen could present various demands, the most direct and simple being for these tycoons to exchange precious natural treasures.
Ying Chen did not believe that these tycoons, who had lived lives of extravagance, would not possess a few personally collected natural treasures.
Especially those magical artifacts that, after the depletion of spiritual energy, had lost their powers but had gained fame throughout history.
A significant portion of those artifacts must have become collectibles, entering the treasure vaults of wealthy tycoons!
These were Ying Chen's ultimate targets!
However, the current efficacy of the Mirage Realm was far from being able to achieve immediate results or extend life.
The current Mirage Realm was a weakened version; long-term consumption might have some life-extending effects.
But even Ying Chen himself did not know how long this "long-term" would be.
If Ying Chen wished to trade with those tycoons, he had to offer a more potent product.
And for a more potent product, Ying Chen had the formula, but the materials were extremely difficult to find.
The most basic ingredient, the Mountain Lord Flower, was not even enough for Ying Chen to cultivate his Impeccable Golden Body, let alone to produce the elixir of longevity.
Therefore, this matter had to be postponed until an opportunity arose.
"Return the Mirage Realm to us!"
"The Mirage Realm is ours!"
"The decision of the head office is their decision, it has nothing to do with us! A general outside the command is not bound by the lord's orders! We refuse to comply with the head office's instructions!"
At this moment, one of the business partners, unable to accept the blow, suddenly jumped up from the ground like a madman and rushed towards Ying Chen, shouting.
His frenzied demeanor made Min Ziqiong step back two paces in fear.
Ying Chen, however, remained calm. His eyes merely flickered with a hint of coldness as he uttered four words in a placid tone.
"Do you wish to die?"
His tone was mild, his voice not loud, yet for some reason, the frenzied business partner suddenly shivered, as if he had seen a terrifying ancient beast. His face turned pale involuntarily, and he collapsed onto the ground!
He no longer had any of the defiant spirit he displayed earlier, claiming exemption from the head office's orders!
"You may leave."
Ying Chen swept his gaze across them coldly and said.
The business partners instantly felt as if they had been granted a great pardon. They scrambled up from the ground and fled towards the door in haste.
In that brief moment, they had felt an unprecedented terrifying killing intent emanating from Ying Chen!
That killing intent was like spring rain nourishing things; though subtle and silent, it was undeniably palpable!
It was as if the person standing before them was not a modern man, but an ancient harbinger of death who had commanded legions and slaughtered countless soldiers on the battlefield!
They, on the other hand, were like desperate, helpless surrendered soldiers lying in a mass grave, awaiting their doom!
Under such circumstances, if they still possessed the courage to resist, they would not merely be small business partners, but CEOs of Fortune 500 companies!
Soon, only a handful of people remained in the bustling courtyard.
Min Ziqiong's parents still seemed stunned and bewildered, their eyes wide with disbelief as they looked at Ying Chen.
They could not comprehend how the security guard, the penniless young man they knew, had become a billionaire overnight.
With a wave of his hand, he had bought several companies worth billions.
"No, no! Even if you won the lottery jackpot, you wouldn't have this much money!"
"Even if you found gold and jade, you couldn't possibly exchange it for hundreds of billions or even trillions in an instant!"
"This sum could not possibly have been accumulated in a single day; it must have been accumulated through years of relentless effort!"
"Therefore, this money is definitely not yours! It must be your boss behind the scenes, right?"
Min Ziqiong's mother, as if suddenly realizing something, her eyes sharp, asked Ying Chen.
Ying Chen scoffed and ignored her.
Min Ziqiong's mother, taking Ying Chen's silence as confirmation, clapped her hands, "I knew it! This is the real answer!"
"Who would have thought, Xiao Qiong, that despite being pregnant before marriage and having your reputation ruined, that influential figure is so infatuated with you? He's willing to invest billions to help you pave your way!"
"Xiao Qiong, you must hold onto such a devoted person tightly and not let him go! It doesn't matter if he's a bit older; in fact, being older is a good thing. Once he dies, all his vast fortune will be yours! Then you can help your brother, and our entire family will achieve a leap in social class!"
Min Ziqiong's mother was overjoyed, her mind vividly imagining the future.
Just moments ago, she had regretted giving birth to Min Ziqiong, and now she was claiming kinship again.
Ying Chen looked at Min Ziqiong's mother with a strange expression.
What did she mean by "a bit older is okay"?
Alright, he was indeed a bit older, more than two thousand years older.
But that didn't mean he would die early!
Ying Chen was confident he could live another two thousand years!
By then, let alone Min Ziqiong, even Min Ziqiong's daughter's daughter's daughter...
Would not be able to get their hands on Ying Chen's inheritance!
Min Ziqiong's mother's dreams were destined to be mere fantasies!
"Handle it yourself. Once you're done, bring Nannan to find me." Ying Chen said, then left without looking back.
Upon seeing Ying Chen depart, Min Ziqiong's mother seemed to shed her inhibitions. She immediately leaned affectionately towards Min Ziqiong.
She nudged Min Ziqiong with her elbow and whispered, "Tell Mom the truth, how far have you and that old man gotten? Have you slept together?"
Min Ziqiong's face instantly flushed, and she instinctively looked back at Ying Chen's retreating figure.
Although Ying Chen had walked far away, his hearing was still sharp enough to catch all their conversation. A dark line immediately appeared on his forehead.
Old man?
Who is the old man?
By today's standards, he should be considered a "fresh young meat"!