Under the caress of the sea breeze, Zhang Menglong and others enjoyed fine red wine and the unique scenery atop the aircraft carrier, as if they were at a hotel on an island with no hints of bumpiness or swaying.
Although the aircraft carrier had been hurrying along for the past few months, Zhang Menglong had already arranged for the best designers and most exquisite craftsmen to transform it into a seaside resort during its voyage.
Its cruising speed was 20% faster than the largest private yacht currently available. The carrier featured hotels, amusement parks, streets, and even artificial hills and waterfalls. The cost of this refurbishment even surpassed its original building cost!
"Thank you, young brother Zhang, for your warm hospitality," even the always silent Clan Leader Liu opened up, "I am Liu Wenyu, the current Clan Leader of the Liu family, and this is our family’s second elder, Liu Mo, and third elder, Liu Tong."
Liu Wenyu continued, "These four are outstanding youths of our Liu family’s generation. We hope they can be accepted as disciples by an Ancient Martial Arts sect during this trip, then our journey will not have been in vain."
Among the four individuals Liu Wenyu mentioned, the youth with a Potential Index of 12 was not included. Zhang Menglong was quite puzzled—did these people have something wrong with their brains, not knowing to discover such a genius?
"And who is this one?" Zhang Menglong asked, pointing at the youth.
"Oh, this is my grandson, Liu Yunyi," Liu Wenyu sighed, "He has been defective since childhood. We have used so many resources that even a pig would have cultivated some Inner Strength, yet he has made no progress and is not even a Level One Martial Artist yet."
"Defective?" Zhang Menglong was stunned for a moment.
"Director, by ’defective’ it means that there are some innate flaws in the meridians, and even if Inner Strength is cultivated, it will rapidly drain away. Such a person might never become a Martial Artist in their lifetime, no matter how many resources are used," Chen Bingyu whispered to Zhang Menglong.
"I see, no wonder," Zhang Menglong nodded. It was no surprise that such a genius was so neglected in the Liu family.
"Starting from the second half of the year, he’ll manage some of the family’s businesses. We can’t just let him stay at home and waste resources, right?" Liu Wenyu did not hide his disdain for his grandson.
In Ancient Martial Arts Families, having such an underachieving descendant was a great shame, even though this innate condition was beyond Liu Yunyi’s control.
"Yunyi, starting next month, you’ll manage the Keyu Corporation. From now on, there’s no need for you to waste your energy on cultivation," Liu Wenyu said.
"Understood, Grandfather," Liu Yunyi’s eyes could not mask his disappointment. His dream since childhood was to become a towering Martial Artist like his father. Therefore, he had always worked harder than others, and had spent more sweat than anyone else.
Managing the family’s assets might sound quite good, but they all clearly understood that it almost amounted to being isolated from the core of the family.
From then on, although he would still have no worries about food or clothing and could even be considered wealthy, in essence, he would only become a money-making machine for the family.
"Such a pity," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "why not let him join my Ritian Sect then."
"This..." Liu Wenyu hesitated.
Of course, his hesitation wasn’t about reluctance—the presence of Liu Yunyi at home at least helped manage the family’s business, but transferring him to Zhang Menglong’s care had no benefit to them.
"Clan Leader Liu, may I ask how much profit does the Keyu Corporation make annually?" Zhang Menglong inquired.
"There’s no need to hide it," Liu Wenyu spoke candidly, "It’s just a small listed technology company, with a net profit of only about fifty or sixty million a year."
"How about this? Let Liu Yunyi stay with our Ritian Sect to cultivate, and I’ll give the Liu family one hundred million a year as compensation. How does that sound?"
"One hundred million?" Liu Wenyu’s face lit up with surprise, "Huaxia Yuan?"
Liu Yunyi had never learned business; placing him there was just because he was a direct descendant and trustworthy, although he didn’t actually boost the company’s profits; their business would earn its usual amount every year.
Even without sending Liu Yunyi over, this company could still make so much money every year, so this one hundred million was purely earned for nothing!
Trading a useless person for one hundred million US dollars a year—only a fool would refuse such a deal!
"Not satisfied?" Zhang Menglong slightly furrowed his brow, "Then let’s make it one hundred million dollars!"
"Willing! Of course, I’m willing!" Liu Wenyu’s smile grew even wider, although he didn’t know if Zhang Menglong had lost his mind to take interest in a useless person, having a naturally defective person meant no losses for them, it would be foolish not to take the money.
"Yunyi, did you hear that? It’s your good fortune that Mr. Zhang has taken a liking to you, from now on you’ll train with Mr. Zhang’s Ritian Sect!" Liu Wenyu decided there and then to sell his own grandson.
"Grandfather, I..." Liu Yunyi’s face turned beet red; he had a thousand and one reasons to refuse. Although the head of this Ritian Sect was wealthy, he was just an ordinary person like him, and it was impossible for him to fulfill his dream of becoming a martial artist.
"Are you going to defy my decision?" Liu Wenyu’s face instantly darkened, "Obey me, or I will disown you from the Liu family!"
Liu Yunyi felt a sudden chill in his heart; ever since he found out he was inherently defective, his family never provided him with any resources. His father, his mother, everyone treated him with extreme coldness, and now his own grandfather actually wanted to "sell" him to some no-name sect.
But what could he do?
"I understand," Liu Yunyi felt utterly desolate in an instant.
"Hahaha! He must see me as a fool inside, but he has no idea that I’m striking it rich with this move!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed in his heart.
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Ye Yin had just revealed to Zhang Menglong that this inherent defect was merely some minor physiological abnormalities, and that as long as a master of level five or higher in the Mythical Realm helped him clear his channels, it would be easily resolved, and then he would be an unmatched genius!
"You’re Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, a young man from the Liu family finally recognized Zhang Menglong. He had always felt this face looked familiar, but he could never recall who it was, until now, realizing it was none other than Zhang Menglong, the world’s richest man.
"You know my brother?" Zhang Menglong asked nonchalantly in response. Experience tales at freewebnovel
"Brother? You..."
"Oh, right," Zhang Menglong laughed, "My name is Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong is my twin brother, it’s not strange that you think we look alike."
Chen Bingyu tried hard to restrain her laughter on the side; she really couldn’t keep up with Zhang Menglong’s train of thought.
"Zhang Ritian, Zhang Menglong..." The young man wasn’t sure if he believed him or not, as he muttered these two names under his breath.
"By the way, Clan Leader Liu," Zhang Menglong asked, "it’s my first time attending this grand event, I’m not sure what the rules are for recruiting disciples?"
"Hahaha," having made a fortune, Liu Wenyu was in a very good mood, "It’s actually quite simple. Each event is divided into two stages. The first stage allows young people from each family to show their skills, with each family sending no more than five members for random one-on-one martial contests, ultimately ranking them in the Genius Ranking."
Zhang Menglong nodded; these competition rules were fairly standard, nothing unusual, "And the other stage?"
"That’s when the big families and sects compete!" Liu Wenyu said excitedly, "The organizer will prepare nine seats, each big family and sect can send members to occupy these seats, and if all seats are taken, anyone dissatisfied can challenge them, until the nine major powers are decided!"
"Then it’s the mutual selection between these sects and the geniuses, naturally, the geniuses ranked higher on the Genius Ranking and the sects that make it to those nine seats are the top picks for both parties."
"Choosing nine out of dozens of sects?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt this rule seemed familiar, "Good lord, this is basically the ’Produce 101’ of the Ancient Martial Arts World!"