novelraw Chapter 131: Fated by Destiny
Chapter 131: Fated by Destiny
"Captain Aofeng, my funds are limited. You should offer your exploration team's investment opportunity to other investors."
Su Yuan turned and walked away.
One billion Azure Surge Coins for a mere one-twentieth share of the profits?
This was treating him like a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
Not to mention, Su Yuan had long seen the outcome of Red-Skinned Aofeng's subsequent explorations through the gray mirror.
On his next expedition, Red-Skinned Aofeng wanted to replicate his previous experience and enter that special star region.
But unfortunately, not only would he fail to enter it, he would mistakenly stumble onto an extremely dangerous planet.
This planet was the slumbering ground of a starry sky behemoth at the peak of the Stellar Life Form level. The Voyagers Exploration Team's accidental intrusion would awaken this terrifying creature.
Following that, facing the relentless pursuit of a peak Stellar Life Form starry sky behemoth, Red-Skinned Aofeng would pay a catastrophic price just to escape alive.
Simply put, without Su Yuan's intervention and guidance, the Voyagers Exploration Team's next expedition would yield absolutely no harvest and instead suffer heavy casualties."Your mindset changed after just one successful harvest?"
Su Yuan shook his head slightly. Through the gray mirror, he fully understood the reason behind Red-Skinned Aofeng's attitude.
Originally, if Red-Skinned Aofeng had offered decent profit-sharing terms, Su Yuan intended to give him a few pointers so he could successfully re-enter that special star region.
After all, he would also receive a portion of the harvest, making it a win-win situation.
To an investor, money could be invested in anyone.
But Red-Skinned Aofeng showed absolutely zero sincerity and even tried to fleece Su Yuan like a naive fool.
"That special star region..."
Numerous details about that special star region surfaced in Su Yuan's mind.
He had learned all of this through the gray mirror. That special star region was an unformed Secret Realm.
A so-called Secret Realm was a completely new space independent of the Universe.
The operating rules and the lifeforms born within it could be entirely different from the foundational rules of the Great Universe.
The source of the Mind Brand that Su Yuan practiced was the Great Sage Phantom Spirit.
And the origins of the Great Sage Phantom Spirit traced back to an unknown Secret Realm.
'I will deal with it later.'
Su Yuan thought to himself. The various treasures nurtured within that special star region would be quite useful to him, but that would be a matter for after he became a Starry Sky Lifeform.
"Limited funds?"
Red-Skinned Aofeng looked stunned. Su Yuan had just received a payout of one billion Azure Surge Coins, yet he claimed to have limited funds?
"Does he just not want to continue funding me?" As a Starry Sky Lifeform, even if only at the Initial-Realm, Red-Skinned Aofeng instantly grasped Su Yuan's true meaning.
Limited funds was merely an excuse.
The underlying message was a flat refusal to invest.
"Captain, were the terms you just proposed a bit too harsh?" the vice-captain of the Voyagers Exploration Team beside him could not help but ask.
A one-twentieth share for one billion Azure Surge Coins?
They would need to harvest resources worth twenty billion Azure Surge Coins just for the investor to break even.
Among the myriad exploration teams in the Canglan Cosmic Human Empire, how many could secure twenty billion in resources in a single run? Those were basically all large-scale exploration teams.
Large exploration teams had ample funding to purchase expensive exploration tech and hire late-stage Starry Sky Lifeforms or even Stellar Life Form experts to join their expeditions.
It was perfectly normal for them to reap massive rewards.
But for a small outfit like the Voyagers Exploration Team, guaranteeing a twenty-billion return on the next trip was simply too difficult.
And even if they managed it, the investor would only break even, not make a profit.
"Do you also think our team won't harvest more than twenty billion on our next expedition?"
Red-Skinned Aofeng glanced at the vice-captain. "That special star region represents far more than a mere twenty billion harvest!"
"Captain, do you mean..."
The vice-captain's eyes widened in astonishment. "...You are confident we can enter that special star region again?"
The vice-captain knew exactly how incredibly rich that special star region was, but they had entered it completely by accident and had no idea how to actually access it.
That was precisely why the vice-captain was pessimistic about their next run.
But hearing the captain's tone? He seemed completely assured.
"Naturally!"
Red-Skinned Aofeng looked nonchalant. "That Mr. Mirror is blind and does not believe in my next expedition. I will show him exactly what absolute regret feels like!"
Red-Skinned Aofeng spoke with absolute confidence.
"Right! As long as we bring in another massive haul next time, the Voyagers Exploration Team's reputation will completely skyrocket. By then..."
The vice-captain beside him grew equally thrilled.
Once might have been a fluke.
But twice?
For an exploration team, reputation was everything. As long as they had the fame, they would have more investment money than they could ever spend.
Meanwhile.
Yalin Luoxing was leisurely browsing the virtual screen before him.
"Young Master Yalin."
Just then, a subordinate reported, "The person you had us keep an eye on, 'Mirror', showed up today. He visited the Voyagers Exploration Team and then left."
"Mirror?"
Yalin Luoxing frowned.
He still had a deep impression of Su Yuan. With the influence of the Luoxing Family, all the major investors in this Virtual World had to give him face.
Yet two or three months ago, right after he had laid down harsh words against the Hometown Exploration Team, Su Yuan had casually walked over and funded them.
This was an undisputed slap to his face.
However, after some investigation, they found no trace of his friends or associates, remaining completely ignorant about his real identity in the physical world.
This left Yalin Luoxing feeling extremely stifled.
"The Voyagers Exploration Team?"
Yalin Luoxing looked at the virtual screen in front of him.
Information regarding the Voyagers Exploration Team immediately popped up.
It included the fact that this team had just brought back a haul worth tens of billions of Azure Surge Coins today.
"Bring the captain of the Voyagers Exploration Team here."
Yalin Luoxing commanded.
"Yes, sir."
The subordinate immediately acknowledged.
A moment later.
Red-Skinned Aofeng stood respectfully before Yalin Luoxing.
"Greetings, Young Master Yalin!"
Red-Skinned Aofeng spoke with deep reverence. When dealing with ordinary investors, he could act with ease and confidence.
But Yalin Luoxing? He was undeniably a major investor, so Red-Skinned Aofeng naturally did not dare to be negligent.
"Tell me about Mirror."
Yalin Luoxing demanded.
"Mirror?"
Red-Skinned Aofeng blanked for a moment.
Then, realizing who he meant, he immediately disclosed everything regarding Su Yuan's attempt to cooperate with him.
"Still no clues."
Yalin Luoxing frowned as he listened to Red-Skinned Aofeng's account. The captain was clearly just as clueless about Mirror's true background.
"However..."
Yalin Luoxing shifted his gaze back to Red-Skinned Aofeng. "Are you saying that you are extremely confident in your next expedition and believe you can bring back massive amounts of resources?"
Yalin Luoxing's interest was piqued.
He realized that Red-Skinned Aofeng must have discovered something significant.
Perhaps a resource-rich planet ripe for long-term mining? Or some special star region?
"Young Master Yalin, I am indeed very confident." Red-Skinned Aofeng's spirits lifted.
While explaining the situation with Su Yuan earlier, he had deliberately hinted at his absolute certainty regarding the upcoming expedition.
His exact goal was to secure Young Master Yalin's investment.
"Hmm..." Yalin Luoxing did not reply immediately.
Instead, he used his connections to dig up the exact details of the resources the Voyagers Exploration Team had just brought back.
The specific nature of those resources could somewhat corroborate Red-Skinned Aofeng's claims.
"Not bad."
Yalin Luoxing looked at Red-Skinned Aofeng and declared, "I intend to fund your next expedition. Make your preparations. With my backing, you won't need any other investors."
Judging by the specific details of the haul, Yalin Luoxing concluded that these resources must have come from an environment extremely abundant in cosmic energy.
In such an environment, the nurtured resources would certainly not be limited to just this small batch.
"Thank you, Young Master Yalin!" Red-Skinned Aofeng rejoiced wildly in his heart.
Watching Red-Skinned Aofeng leave, Yalin Luoxing fell deep into thought.
He had two main motives for funding the Voyagers Exploration Team.
First, there was a genuine prospect of reaping a much larger harvest.
Red-Skinned Aofeng's confidence was not unfounded.
Second, it was because of Su Yuan.
If the Voyagers Exploration Team achieved a massive haul under his patronage, wouldn't Su Yuan, who had rejected them, beat his chest and stomp his feet in bitter regret?
Virtual World.
Personal Space.
Su Yuan stood there with a Drawing Board hovering in front of him.
Holding a brush, Su Yuan began to draw on the board.
Threads of Yin and Yang power constantly flowed through his strokes, seamlessly blending into the canvas.
On the surface, Su Yuan appeared to be merely painting, but in reality, this was a specific application of the Yin and Yang power. It allowed him to deepen his comprehension of the Power of Extreme Yang and the Power of Extreme Yin to a far greater extent.
Just then.
Not far behind Su Yuan.
Ye Kunlun's figure materialized.
"Greetings, Lord," Ye Kunlun said respectfully, though his expression carried a hint of heaviness.
He looked up cautiously, only to see Su Yuan's back and a small, exposed corner of the Drawing Board.
From that single corner, Ye Kunlun could vaguely sense an endless, inexhaustible convergence of Yin and Yang power.
Despite being dozens of meters away, Ye Kunlun still felt an oppressive weight and a palpitating terror in his heart.
'Just what on earth is the Lord drawing? Merely glancing at it fills me with dread,' he thought.
Ye Kunlun steadied his nerves and immediately averted his gaze, not daring to look any further.
"Speak."
Su Yuan stated casually, not pausing his painting.
"Lord, I have successfully passed the trial mission and entered the inner sect of the Green Phoenix Gate. I am now an Inner Disciple."
Ye Kunlun reported respectfully.
Su Yuan had told him long ago to report back periodically regarding matters concerning the Green Phoenix Gate.
"Mm."
Su Yuan continued to paint meticulously. "What is weighing on your mind?"
"Lord..." Ye Kunlun hesitated upon hearing this, but then said in a low voice, "During this trial mission, I met a fellow disciple. Her name is Lingzhu..."
Ye Kunlun truthfully recounted the events between him and Lingzhu, openly confessing that he had fallen in love with her.
"Mm."
Su Yuan nodded.
All of this was within his expectations. That Lingzhu, whose full name was Feng Lingzhu, was a Young Princess of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan.
The fact that Ye Kunlun was able to meet her was entirely due to Su Yuan's secret orchestration.
"But for the past few days, Lingzhu has suddenly vanished. No matter how I try to contact her, there is no reply."
Ye Kunlun's tone was filled with worry.
"Vanished?"
Su Yuan's expression remained placid. Feng Lingzhu had not vanished; rather, certain matters in reality temporarily prevented her from logging into the Virtual Network.
By tomorrow, Feng Lingzhu would contact Ye Kunlun again.
"Lord, do you think Lingzhu has lost interest in me? Or perhaps her family disapproves of me?" Ye Kunlun mustered the courage to ask.
During his conversations with Feng Lingzhu, he had heard her mention that the elders in her family were quite strict.
"That won't happen."
"You and her being together..."
Su Yuan paused his painting slightly and cast a glance at the anxious Ye Kunlun.
"...is Fated by Destiny!"