Chapter 17 Invitations Abound

September 7th, 10 AM.

Xia Country, Life Evolution Bureau.

"Gentlemen," Director Zhou said, looking at the other four deputy directors, placing the red-headed document with the red seal on the table. "With the approval of the highest authority, the second batch of cultivation candidate lists has been finalized."

Deputy Directors Fang Hong, Zhang Tongfang, Liang Qian, and Wang Shuqi immediately saw the list on the red-headed document.

At the top of the list was Xu Jingming. Second was Fang Yu.

"All preparatory measures have been confirmed," Director Zhou instructed. "Once everything is verified, we can invite Xu Jingming, Fang Yu, and Zhao Fan. Among the previous batch, only Liu Hai will undergo a second cultivation, with a cultivation level equivalent to Xu Jingming."

The four deputy directors nodded.

"Hurry up and take action to ensure everything is ready before 2 PM this afternoon," Director Zhou ordered.

...

Noon.

After lunch, Xu Jingming and Li Miaomiao sat in the living room, eating fruit, watching programs on the light screen, and chatting.

"Senior Brother," Xu Jingming answered a video call. Fang Xinglong appeared on the light screen.

"Jingming, I've been entrusted by White Bear Group to invite you to join their White Bear Team, which is currently being formed," Fang Xinglong said with a smile. "You don't need to consider my feelings; I'm just passing on a message."

"White Bear Group?" Xu Jingming was surprised. "Such a large group wants to form a team?"

At its peak, Tiger Shark Group was still inferior to White Bear Group.

White Bear Group is a state-owned conglomerate, the world's leading battery manufacturer. Nowadays, all cars and even many electrical appliances use 'batteries,' and battery technology is a core technology. Although White Bear Group has the largest global market share, it also has competitors from other countries.

At the same time, White Bear Group also has its own cars and even manufactures aircraft.

"The state-owned group is a bit slow to act," Fang Xinglong said with a smile. "But once they decide to enter the virtual world, their determination is very strong. They are inviting you to be the captain of the team! The fixed annual salary is 100 million, and you personally get 50% of the team's prize money. As for the live stream rewards, they all belong to you. The restrictions on you are also very low."

"I don't plan to disband the Pearwood Team yet," Xu Jingming said.

"Alright, I'll send you the detailed terms. Contact me if you're interested," Fang Xinglong said with a smile. "But I'll also give you some advice. The virtual world has only been open for a little over a month, and countries are guiding their citizens in martial arts and combat... This is definitely not just a game. Don't easily bind yourself to any one party. Even if you sign a contract, don't sign one that's too restrictive."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Speaking of which, your departure from my martial arts hall has been like a dragon returning to the sea; you've really soared," Fang Xinglong said with a smile. "Alright, I won't chat anymore. Keep up the good work."

After the communication was cut off, Li Miaomiao, who was beside him, said with a hint of jealousy, "You've been getting so many calls today, all inviting you. But no one has invited me."

"They're just stupid. If they don't invite Sister Cat, how could I possibly go?" Xu Jingming said with a smile.

Suddenly, another communication request came.

Xu Jingming opened it again.

"Heng Gongzi, what's up?" Xu Jingming asked.

"An acquaintance asked me to help," Heng Fang said, stifling a laugh. "I'm just passing on a message. If you want to curse, don't curse me."

"Just say it quickly," Xu Jingming urged.

"It's that... that Cheng Zihao you dislike so much. He's inviting you to be the captain of the White Dragon Team," Heng Fang said. "The salary..."

"Tell him to get lost!" Xu Jingming said.

"I knew you'd curse. Anyway, I've passed on the message," Heng Fang said with a smile. "By the way, I wanted to ask, Captain, you wouldn't leave our Pearwood Team, would you? And you wouldn't kick us old teammates out, would you?"

Xu Jingming glanced at him and hung up the phone directly.

Li Miaomiao, who was beside him, finally spoke, incredulously saying, "This Cheng Zihao is really thick-skinned. He even has the nerve to invite you?"

...

In the office.

"Boss, Xu Jingming rejected the offer," Zhou Feng said.

"Oh." Cheng Zihao sat at his desk, not even looking up, and asked, "What exactly did he say? Did he make any demands?"

"He just said three words—'Tell him to get lost!'" Zhou Feng said.

Cheng Zihao's anger flared up instantly, his face twisting slightly, but he forcibly controlled himself, and said with a faint smile, "He's really narrow-minded. Since we can't invite him, so be it. Anyway, we were just trying, and trying doesn't cost any money."

"Yes, Boss's magnanimity is beyond what Xu Jingming can compare with. He's just a martial brute," Zhou Feng flattered.

"Alright, go ahead," Cheng Zihao said.

Zhou Feng immediately left quietly, carefully closing the office door behind him.

Only when he was the only one left in the entire office did Cheng Zihao's calm face completely twist.

"What a piece of trash?" Cheng Zihao threw the documents and pen in his hand fiercely and cursed, "I gave him face, and invited him politely. And he dares to be so disrespectful? When Tiger Shark Group was still under my Cheng family, who would dare to treat me like this? A tiger fallen in the plains is bullied by dogs!"

"I'll endure it!"

"To run a company, I have to be able to endure what ordinary people can't," Cheng Zihao gritted his teeth. This was the first time in so many years that he had been so serious about running a company, pouring almost all his time into it.

******

In the afternoon, Xu Jingming was practicing the Heavenly Python Evolution Method in the yard.

Suddenly, he noticed a large aircraft appearing in mid-air. The aircraft was descending, heading towards Xu Jingming's residence.

"What's going on?" Xu Jingming stopped his evolution method practice and looked up.

"What's wrong?"

Li Miaomiao in the living room also came out and stood in the yard, looking up at the sky.

A nearly triangular large aircraft slowly descended, with the Xia Country flag on it. When it descended above the villa, it hovered, with a light enveloping the surroundings, also enveloping Xu Jingming's home. The surrounding neighbors couldn't see the situation inside the light at all.

The door of the aircraft opened, and metal steps were lowered, leading directly to the courtyard of Xu Jingming's house.

Three figures walked down the steps, led by an old man.

"Zhou..." Xu Jingming looked at the old man with the surname Zhou, and couldn't help but be dumbfounded. Although he rarely saw this man on television now, this old man was already one of the country's leaders more than thirty years ago, before he was even born.

"Xu Jingming, hello, I am Zhou Yuyang," the old man with the surname Zhou said, extending his hand.

Xu Jingming was a little flattered and immediately extended both hands to shake his hand, saying, "Hello, Senior Zhou."

"I am now the Director of the Xia Country Life Evolution Bureau," Director Zhou said with a slight smile. "The Life Evolution Bureau is responsible for the life evolution affairs of the people of Xia Country. The virtual world is also managed by the Life Evolution Bureau."

Xu Jingming was shocked.

Life Evolution Bureau, he had never even heard of it! But its authority was astonishing. The significance of life evolution to mankind was self-evident, and in Xia Country, it was the responsibility of the Life Evolution Bureau.

"Please follow me to take the aircraft to the coast first," Director Zhou said. "We'll talk about the details on the way."

"Alright."

Xu Jingming nodded and turned to look at Li Miaomiao not far away, "Miaomiao, I'm going to the coast for a while."

"Li Miaomiao, hello," Director Zhou said with a smile. "I'll take your boyfriend away first, and he should be back in a day or two."

"Director Zhou, hello, everything's fine, please take him away," Li Miaomiao said nervously. She never expected to see this old man in her life.

Xu Jingming immediately followed Director Zhou and, escorted by two guards, boarded the metal steps.

The steps retracted, and the group entered the aircraft.

Entering the aircraft cabin, Director Zhou pointed to a seat next to him: "Sit."

Xu Jingming obediently sat down.

"The reason for inviting you this time is the national cultivation plan," Director Zhou explained after sitting down. "And you belong to the highest cultivation level in the country. At the highest level, there are only you and Liu Hai."