Chapter 14 A White Bear, A White Dragon

September 7th, 10:00 AM.

Xia Country, Life Evolution Bureau.

"Gentlemen," Director Zhou said, looking at the other four deputy directors, placing the red-lettered document sealed with a red stamp on the table. "With the decision of the highest authorities, the second batch of cultivation candidate list has been finalized."

Fang Hong, Zhang Tongfang, Liang Qian, and Wang Shuqi, the four deputy directors, immediately saw the list on the red-lettered document.

Ranked first was Xu Jingming. Second was Fang Yu.

"All preparation measures have been finalized," Director Zhou instructed. "Once verified, we can invite Xu Jingming, Fang Yu, and Zhao Fan. Among the last batch of veterans, only Liu Hai will undergo a second cultivation, with a cultivation level equivalent to Xu Jingming."

The four deputy directors all nodded.

"Seize the time, act quickly, and ensure everything is prepared by 2:00 PM this afternoon," Director Zhou instructed.

...

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 the White Bear Group to invite you to join their White Bear Team, which they are currently forming," Fang Xinglong said with a smile. "You don't need to consider my thoughts; I'm just a messenger."

"The White Bear Group?" Xu Jingming was surprised. "Such a large group is also forming a team?"

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

The White Bear Group is a state-owned mega-corporation, the world's number one battery manufacturer. Nowadays, all cars and even many appliances use 'batteries.' Battery technology is also a core technology. Although the White Bear Group has the world's largest market share, it also has competitors in other countries.

At the same time, the 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 still very strong. They're inviting you to be the team captain! The fixed annual salary is one hundred million, you personally get 50% of the team's prize money, and all live-streaming rewards belong to you. The requirements and restrictions on you are also very low."

"I don't plan to disband the Pearwood Team for now," 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 a suggestion: the virtual world has only been open for a little over a month, and various countries are guiding their citizens in martial arts combat... this is definitely not just a game. Don't easily bind yourself to any one side. Even if you sign, don't sign with too many restrictions."

Xu Jingming nodded.

"Speaking of which, your departure from my martial arts hall has turned you into 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 call ended, Li Miaomiao, who was beside him, said with a hint of sourness, "You've gotten so many calls today, one after another inviting you. But no one has invited me."

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

Suddenly, another communication request came through.

Xu Jingming opened it.

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

"An acquaintance asked me to help with something," Heng Fang said, suppressing a smile. "I'm just a messenger. If you want to scold, don't scold me."

"Tell me quickly," Xu Jingming urged.

"It's just that... that Cheng Zihao, whom you dislike very much, is 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 scold me. Anyway, I've delivered the message," Heng Fang said with a smile. "By the way, I wanted to ask, Captain, you shouldn't be leaving our Pearwood Team, right? And you wouldn't kick out us old members, would you?"

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

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

...

In the office.

"Boss, Xu Jingming refused," Zhou Feng said.

"Oh," Cheng Zihao, sitting at his desk, didn't even look up, asking, "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 instantly flared up, his face slightly twisted, but he forcibly controlled himself, and said with a faint smile, "He really is narrow-minded. Since we can't invite him, then so be it. Anyway, it's just a test, and testing doesn't cost money."

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

"Alright, go on down," Cheng Zihao said.

Zhou Feng immediately quietly left, carefully closing the office door when he left.

When only he was left in the entire office, Cheng Zihao's calm face completely twisted.

"What the hell?" Cheng Zihao suddenly threw the documents and pen in his hand, cursing, "Giving him face, politely inviting him. And he still doesn't give me any face? When the Tiger Shark Group was still under my Cheng family, who dared to treat me like this? It's really a fallen tiger being bullied by dogs!"

"I'll endure it!"

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

******

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

Suddenly, he noticed a large aircraft appearing in mid-air, descending towards his 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, standing in the courtyard, looking up at the sky.

A nearly triangular large aircraft slowly descended. It had the Xia Country flag on it. When it descended above the villa, it hovered, and a light enveloped the surroundings, also enveloping Xu Jingming's home. The surrounding neighbors couldn't see what was happening inside the light.

The aircraft door opened, and metal stairs lowered, leading directly to Xu Jingming's courtyard.

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

"Zhou..." Xu Jingming looked at the old man with the surname Zhou and was dumbfounded. Although he rarely saw this person on TV 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, Zhou Yuyang." The old man with the surname Zhou extended his hand.

Xu Jingming was flattered and immediately extended both hands, shaking hands and saying, "Hello, Senior Zhou."

"I now serve as the director of the Xia Country Life Evolution Bureau," Director Zhou said with a smile. "The Life Evolution Bureau is responsible for the life evolution of the people of Xia Country. The virtual world is also under the management of the Life Evolution Bureau."

Xu Jingming was shocked.

The Life Evolution Bureau—he had never even heard of it! But its authority was shockingly great. The significance of life evolution to humanity was unimaginable, and in Xia Country, it was the responsibility of the Life Evolution Bureau.

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

"Okay."

Xu Jingming nodded, turning to look at Li Miaomiao not far away, "Miaomiao, I'm going to the coastal city."

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

"Director Zhou, hello, everything's good, please take him away," Li Miaomiao said nervously. She never thought she would meet this old man in her lifetime.

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

The stairs retracted, and the few people entered the aircraft.

Inside 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, sitting down. "And you belong to the highest cultivation level in the country. There are only you and Liu Hai at the highest level."