I Can Control Resources

"Yes. It’s not a possibility, it’s a certainty!" Gao Neng said with conviction.

"We understand. We need to discuss this. We’ll give you a definitive answer by tomorrow morning at the latest, Mr. Gao," the three directors repeated.

"Alright." Gao Neng wasn’t particularly surprised.

"So, what’s the second step, Mr. Gao? Surely you don’t plan to win support with just a pile of evolution materials? That doesn’t align with a typical campaign strategy. Besides, from what we know, evolution materials alone probably won’t be enough... The sects and prominent families control..."

"Alchemy, right?" Gao Neng cut in.

"Yes. It seems you’ve done your homework on the Speaker election, Mr. Gao. Since that’s the case, we’ll be frank. The Celestial King Group does have Alchemy capabilities, but we still fall short compared to the sects and prominent families. The gap is especially wide when it comes to refining high-end pills," the three directors admitted, nodding.

"That’s why I had my master help me organize an event for Alchemists, gathering a group of the absolute best from all the sects and prominent families," Gao Neng replied.

"What are you implying, Mr. Gao?"

"If a flower wants to display its most beautiful side, how can it do so without some green leaves to set it off? Gentlemen, wouldn’t you agree?" Gao Neng’s lips curled into a slight smile.

"A flower, green leaves... Don’t tell me you intend to..."

"Yes. It’s exactly what you gentlemen are thinking."

"Nonsense!" Fang Yuan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up. "Gao Neng, after all that, is this really the path you’ve decided to take?"

"Yes, this is the one." Gao Neng nodded.

"What makes you think you can? As far as I know, just a few days ago you had Tangtang ask me for a Pill Formula. That tells me you’re still a complete beginner at pill refinement. To be blunt, you probably haven’t even gotten your foot in the door. And now you’re saying that at this event... This... what is this if not complete nonsense?"

"Heh, don’t be angry, Grandpa Fang." Gao Neng chuckled. He was somewhat familiar with Fang Yuan’s temper. Besides, the fact that Fang Yuan was getting angry at him suggested that, on some level, the old man was already genuinely thinking about how to get him elected as Speaker.

"Then give me one reason not to be angry!" Fang Yuan retorted, waving his hand dismissively.

"To be honest, the best proof would be for you to witness it firsthand, Grandpa Fang. But I’m afraid there isn’t enough time. After all, it’s not like I can refine a pill in a single day, right?"

"As long as you know!"

"So I can’t give you a live demonstration, but I still need to prove my Alchemy skills... That leaves only one option." As he finished, a smile played on Gao Neng’s lips once more.

"And what’s that?"

"Investment with collateral. To put it bluntly... the Celestial King Group gives me money, and I’ll put up the evolved attribute materials as collateral. That way, even if I fail, the Celestial King Group doesn’t lose a thing. In fact, you stand to make a huge profit. So why wouldn’t you do it?" Gao Neng said with a smile.

"..." Fang Yuan was taken aback. He wanted to argue, but suddenly realized that Gao Neng seemed to have anticipated every possible objection.

The three directors also exchanged a look.

When Gao Neng laid out his second step, their initial reaction was the same as Fang Yuan’s—they wanted to curse him out. But after hearing about the collateral, a new thought popped into their heads. ’Wait a minute... even if he loses, we don’t lose anything, do we?’

’In that case...’

’Maybe we *want* him to lose?’

The feeling was utterly bizarre!

’We’re supposed to be discussing a massive venture capital deal, but no matter how you slice it, we’re guaranteed to come out ahead. Can you even call that a venture capital investment anymore?’

"Grandpa Fang, gentlemen, are there any other questions?" Seeing that Fang Yuan and the three directors had fallen silent, Gao Neng knew it was a done deal.

’How could it not be?’

’For a guy like me running on cheat codes, offering the Celestial King Group a can’t-lose business proposition... it would be incredibly difficult for them to refuse.’

"What are your odds of winning the election for Speaker?" Fang Yuan finally asked after a moment of silence.

"If I said I was 100% confident, you, Grandpa Fang, and you gentlemen probably wouldn’t believe me. So, let’s go with the standard answer and say forty percent. I have at least a forty-percent chance of becoming Speaker. With those odds, is the Celestial King Group willing to take a gamble on me?" Gao Neng stated firmly.

’A forty-percent chance wasn’t him being modest. In fact, it was his genuine estimate based on the current situation. No one could predict what the future might hold.’

’Speaker of the Supreme Council!’

’That’s not such an easy position to win!’

"Forty percent?!" Fang Yuan’s brow furrowed. He looked at Gao Neng seriously, then turned to the three directors beside him.

The three directors were silent for a moment, and in the end, they all nodded lightly.

’Forty percent wasn’t high, but then again, there was no such thing as a truly risk-free investment in this world. And for an investment, forty-percent odds were actually incredibly high.’

"I have one last question." After receiving the directors’ consensus, Fang Yuan’s gaze returned to Gao Neng.

"Please ask, Grandpa Fang." Gao Neng nodded.

"Why are you so determined to become the Speaker? With your talent, you don’t need to fight for this. And, to be blunt, this is not the path a gifted Cultivator should take," Fang Yuan said earnestly.

"Because a cat left me. And also, because I want to control my own destiny," Gao Neng replied with equal gravity.

"The cat that attacked the South District City Gate?" Fang Yuan’s brows furrowed again.

"Yes. Her name is Gao Xiaomeng."

"I see. To accomplish something like that... you’re right, becoming the Speaker is probably the only way." Fang Yuan nodded, then fell silent once more.

Gao Neng didn’t interrupt.

He knew Fang Yuan was thinking, making his final decision.

「Ten minutes later.」

Fang Yuan raised his head.

"Alright. The Celestial King Group has decided to fully support your campaign for Speaker!" As he finished speaking, Fang Yuan immediately raised the wine glass that was still half-full in front of him.

"Thank you, Grandpa Fang!" Gao Neng likewise raised his own half-empty glass.

The two clinked their glasses.

The sound was crisp and clear.

...

「The next morning.」

Gao Neng received a massive wire transfer for the investment.

A total of two hundred billion!

For such a large sum, the Celestial King Group had to use its special client status to maneuver the funds, sending it in ten separate transfers of twenty billion each.

At the same time, the laboratory that Wu Qingjing and Yutian built for Gao Neng was also officially completed.

The laboratory complex was divided into three sections.

One was a showroom.

One was a gene weapon laboratory.

And one was an attribute material evolution laboratory.

As Gao Neng’s assistant, Dr. Lan was naturally put in charge of the daily operations at the gene weapon laboratory.

As for the personnel for the attribute material evolution laboratory...

Wu Qingjing and Yutian gave Gao Neng a list.

It was densely packed with a full one hundred names. Each name was followed by a description detailing the individual’s specialties and experience.

Of course, this wasn’t the most important part.

The most important thing was that Gao Neng discovered a few acquaintances on this list.

Number two on the Dragon List, Wei Ya!

Number three on the Dragon List, Zhou Jin!

And...

The future Saintess of the Bright Sect, Yi Qinglian!

At first, Gao Neng was a bit surprised to see these names, but after reading the credentials listed next to them, he understood why they were there.

Wei Ya was a representative figure of the prominent families, so the power backing him was naturally extraordinary. More importantly, his grandfather was one of the most renowned Alchemists in the Alliance.

The same went for Yi Qinglian. As the future Saintess of the Bright Sect and a daughter of the West Alliance Yi Family, she was also deeply accomplished in the research of attribute materials and pills.

Looking at these familiar names, Gao Neng suddenly felt as if he had discovered a new continent... one filled with all kinds of Pill Formulas and ancient texts!

’Hmm...’

’But before any of that, the first order of business is to evolve all two thousand-plus attribute raw materials and the thousand-plus pieces of Magnetic Crystal Ore!’