In the evening, Hu Yuanyuan returned from the company, her complexion much improved. Li Feng could even detect a hint of a smile on her face. However, Hu Yuanyuan was a workaholic. Even at home, she wasted no time, sitting on the sofa as soon as she entered, either making calls or reviewing documents. Li Feng shook his head inwardly; her work enthusiasm rivalled his dedication to cultivation.
Suddenly remembering something, Hu Yuanyuan looked up from her documents and said, “Li Feng, Xu Qing has already spoken to me. I’ve ordered the machines. They’ll arrive in about a week.”
“Just let me know when they arrive for modifications,” Li Feng replied, understanding her intent. He didn’t refuse, as it was a small matter to him.
Hu Yuanyuan nodded and continued with her work.
Feeling bored, Li Feng returned to his room alone. Glancing at the time, he figured it was morning in the United States. He wondered how Microsoft would react to his email.
Unbeknownst to Li Feng, Microsoft had already sent their technical director to Tianhai City.
He took out half a century-old ginseng from the cabinet, leftover from his medicinal bath preparation. Originally, he planned to save it for future cultivation, but knowing he could buy the herbs he needed at Wenjun Pavilion Pharmacy in three days, he decided to use the ginseng today.
As the moon rose above the treetops, Li Feng prepared to use the century-old ginseng.
Though valuable, Li Feng didn’t consider century-old ginseng particularly precious for body refinement, especially since he’d soon have access to rarer thousand-year ginseng.
He filled the bathtub halfway with water, undressed, and stepped in. After consuming the ginseng, a warm current flowed through his body.
Silently reciting the Nine Heavens Heart Sutra, Li Feng circulated his internal energy, synergising with the ginseng’s effects.
He sat in the tub all night. At dawn, he opened his eyes abruptly. The ginseng’s effects had been fully absorbed.
Seeing the oily residue on the water’s surface, Li Feng smiled with satisfaction. Though the half ginseng hadn’t boosted his cultivation, it had expelled impurities from his body, a significant gain.
After cleaning up and dressing, Li Feng left the villa and drove to the suburbs. His destination was the abandoned factory where he had once rescued Yu Ping. He wanted to buy it to establish a training base for his security company.
Moreover, as his strength grew, the villa’s gym was no longer sufficient, and causing a commotion there would be troublesome. The abandoned factory was a better option.
When he rescued Yu Ping, he noticed the factory, though small, had few nearby buildings. Buying it and the surrounding wasteland would be more than adequate for a training base.
Twenty minutes later, Li Feng parked at the factory gate.
Before coming, he had researched online. This was an old factory district from decades ago. The abandoned factory was a private steel mill, but as Tianhai City’s economy grew, the old district was abandoned. Unprofitable, the factory closed.
Years later, the area was overgrown with weeds, a desolate expanse with only the factory buildings standing silently in the wilderness.
Li Feng walked around the factory. It spanned about 20 mu, with 30 mu of nearby wasteland, ample for a training base.
No trace of the owner’s information remained. To buy it, he’d need to find the owner first.
Driving back to the city, Li Feng received a call from Microsoft.
“Hello, Mr. Li Feng. This is Jackson, Microsoft’s technical director.”
Hearing the voice, Li Feng felt relieved. Microsoft wasn’t shortsighted, saving him the trouble of finding another buyer. Sending a technical director showed their seriousness.
“Hello, Mr. Jackson!”
“Mr. Li, are you free? I’m in Tianhai City and would like to discuss the operating system,” Jackson said.
“Sure, let’s meet at Starlight Hotel in an hour,” Li Feng replied.
An hour later, Li Feng met Jackson, Microsoft’s technical director, at Starlight Hotel. A tall, imposing Caucasian in his forties, Jackson hardly seemed like a technical director.
Li Feng extended his hand. “Mr. Jackson, a pleasure to meet you. I’m Li Feng.”
“Mr. Li, I didn’t expect you to be so young,” Jackson said, surprised. He had imagined an elderly partner, not a man in his twenties.
“Heroes don’t come with an age limit,” Li Feng said with a smile. “Buffett invested in stocks at eleven, Mr. Bill started programming at thirteen. Compared to them, I’m nothing.”
Jackson waved his hand. “Mr. Li, you’re too modest. Your operating system is a monumental breakthrough in computing. Even our president might not match your future achievements.”
Li Feng was surprised Jackson held him in such high regard but didn’t dwell on it. “Mr. Jackson, you’re here for the operating system, right? What price does Microsoft offer?”
“What does Mr. Li think it’s worth?” Jackson countered.
“Does this operating system have a price?” Li Feng said with a faint smile.
“So, Mr. Li doesn’t plan to sell?” Jackson frowned.
“I propose a partnership with Microsoft,” Li Feng said calmly. Initially, he planned to sell the system, but meeting Jackson, he saw greater potential. He didn’t want a one-time deal.
“Oh? How does Mr. Li envision this partnership?” Jackson wasn’t surprised. Someone who could develop an intelligent operating system wasn’t simple. He doubted Li Feng would sell outright.
“I want 20 percent of Microsoft’s shares,” Li Feng said boldly.
“Mr. Li, isn’t that excessive?” Jackson gasped, stunned by the audacious demand.
“Does Mr. Jackson think this system isn’t worth it? If it falls into Apple’s hands, they’d offer better terms,” Li Feng said.
“No, no, no, Mr. Li, you can’t do that,” Jackson said urgently. Microsoft thrived on software. Li Feng’s system was beyond their research capabilities for years. If it went to competitors, the consequences were dire.
Li Feng smiled faintly.
“Mr. Li, this isn’t my call. I’ll contact the president now,” Jackson said.
“Go ahead.”
Jackson opened a video call. Bill appeared. “Mr. Li, a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise, Mr. Bill,” Li Feng greeted in American English.
“Mr. Li, have you been to the U.S.? Your English is excellent,” Bill said, surprised.
“Yes,” Li Feng replied. In his previous life, only three nations remained: Huaxia, the United States, and the EU, a unified European state formed in the cosmic era. As an elite special forces soldier, Li Feng dealt with the U.S. often, mastering its English.
“Mr. Li, 20 percent of Microsoft is too much. Though your system is intelligent, do you know what 20 percent of Microsoft is worth?” Bill asked.
“As of yesterday, Microsoft’s market value was 400 billion USD. Twenty percent is 80 billion USD,” Li Feng said calmly. “Eighty billion may seem high, but my system is worth it. With it, Microsoft’s profits could triple.”
After negotiations, Bill offered 10 percent of Microsoft’s shares and 500 million USD in cash for the system’s copyright, with the shares non-transferable.
Li Feng handed the source code to Jackson, who, as Microsoft’s technical director, signed the contract on Bill’s behalf.
“Mr. Bill, this is just the start of our partnership,” Li Feng said meaningfully. He hadn’t expected this basic intelligent system to yield billions, beyond his wildest dreams.
At the same time, Li Feng grew cautious. The smartphone chip he gave Xiangfeng Investment wasn’t inferior to this system. Microsoft, a global giant, was untouchable, but Xiangfeng was vulnerable. Ambitious players wouldn’t miss a chance at the chip.
He needed to establish the security company quickly, building a robust defence system. Hu Yuanyuan’s safety was paramount. The bodyguards around her were too weak to protect her adequately.
Fortunately, the company’s production-to-launch timeline was two months, enough time to prepare. The chip’s announcement hadn’t drawn much attention yet, as few saw its true value. Competitors were wary of each other, biding their time, giving Li Feng an opportunity to act.
His only concern was Su Yang and Su Xin. The chip’s development rendered Su Yang’s decades of research obsolete, likely fuelling their resentment toward him and Xiangfeng. Su Xin, in particular, was like a venomous snake, unpredictable and dangerous.
Leaving Starlight Hotel, Li Feng went to Citibank in Tianhai City to convert the 500 million USD cheque into Huaxia currency, distributing it across several accounts.
Afterwards, he visited the city government, where he successfully obtained the contact details of the abandoned factory’s owner.
Leaving the government office, Li Feng dialled the number.
