Lin Qianyi was starting to understand what it meant for a plant to improve in "quality."
It was a comprehensive upgrade all aspects of the plant's attributes were enhanced.
The external manifestation was that the plant grew slightly larger, more symmetrical, more aesthetically pleasing almost like it had been refined.
This was just the Excellent grade. As for Epic, Legendary, Mythic, and Supreme, he had no clue yet.
In a secluded mountain estate in Xiang Haoguo…
A man with silver-white hair though appearing only in his thirties sat reviewing data on a computer.
This man was the actual controller of Poseidon Corporation known by subordinates as "Poseidon". His real name, however, was Chu Xu.
He had lived since the early 20th century.
His real age? 146 years old.
The report he was reading came from Su Mandong's lab, a test on the Super Poseidon Grass.
Chu Xu first discovered Poseidon Grass during the world war era.
He had been a soldier for Xiang Haoguo. When their warship was destroyed at sea, he and a fellow soldier drifted into a hollow beneath the seabed.
There, they found meteorite fragments… and the Poseidon Grass growing among them.
Starving, they resorted to eating the strange ferns.
But it wasn't smooth. The plants were highly corrosive.
Luckily, his comrade Su Youde knew some basic chemistry. He used alkaline substances to neutralize the acidity. They managed to survive on the Poseidon Grass.
Eating it gave them inhuman physical strength.
Six months later, they escaped the underwater hollow. The war was still ongoing. They were thrown back into battle.
Thanks to their enhanced bodies, they repeatedly distinguished themselves in combat, eventually earning high military ranks.
But despite their power, they were still mortal flesh. Su Youde later died horribly on a mission.
Chu Xu adopted his comrade's son as his godson. That son had many descendants sons, daughters, grandchildren…
To this day, Chu Xu barely remembered any of the Su clan.
Su Mandong? She was likely Su Youde's great-granddaughter.
Chu Xu didn't care much for Su Mandong's current role.
She might hold a high position in Poseidon Corp on paper, but to him, she was just a disposable pawn.
He had long since entered the highest levels of power in Xiang Haoguo an unspeakable figure beyond normal comprehension.
Ordinary people didn't even know he existed.
Su Mandong was merely one of many visible company executives. Their weight wasn't even in the same league.
Besides, Chu Xu had moved beyond mere politics. He had never stopped pushing forward. The Poseidon Grass had continued to enhance his body.
He was no longer human by ordinary standards.
But even Poseidon Grass had its limits.
Thirty years ago, he had no gray hairs at all. But now? His entire head was white.
His body was still healthy, but he could feel himself declining.
And that, he could not accept but there was nothing he could do.
He was still trying to find a solution, but deep down… he felt death approaching.
And yet, it seemed fate didn't want him to die just yet.
As he stared at the data on his screen, he suddenly laughed out loud.
"Interesting," Chu Xu murmured, then made a call.
"The external operations CEO of our Poseidon branch in Hengxia City… yes, Su Mandong. I want to meet her tomorrow."
---
Su Mandong had guessed right Poseidon was very interested in the Super Poseidon Grass.
They immediately sent a private jet to bring her in.
When boarding, Su Mandong wanted to bring Lin Qianyi along. The people on the plane hesitated but allowed it after confirming with higher-ups.
About four hours later, they reached their destination a mansion.
Lin Qianyi had thought Su Mandong's villa was luxurious, but this estate made him raise his eyebrows.
Just maintaining this place must cost a fortune beyond imagination.
Power and wealth… this is what makes people obsessed with it.
Upon arrival, Lin Qianyi and Su Mandong were checked for contraband. Then they were escorted to bathe with professional attendants to scrub them clean.
Afterward, Lin Qianyi was given a lightly scented suit, and Su Mandong changed into a wine-red gown.
Seeing her, Lin Qianyi quipped:
"Feels like we're going to a banquet."
"Maybe we are," Su Mandong replied.
"Please follow us," said a bodyguard.
They were led down a long corridor to a hall.
A long dining table was filled with food. A white-haired man in his 30s was eating.
Seeing them, Chu Xu said:
"Pick any seat. Help yourself. No need for formalities."
Su Mandong didn't intend to eat. She sat beside Chu Xu directly.
"This is the closest I've ever been to you," she said.
"Last time I saw you was when you visited our HQ."
"Ah yes," Chu Xu nodded.
"Back then, I heard your product had made a breakthrough. Turns out the data was forged. Your VP fed him to the fish."
He wasn't trying to intimidate her. He was just stating facts.
Usually, such small fries wouldn't even deserve his personal attention.
"Then he deserved it," Su Mandong said calmly.
"I've eaten enough. Let's talk business."
Chu Xu wiped his mouth, then glanced at Lin Qianyi behind Su Mandong.
"What do you want? Just say it."
"Cooperation," Su Mandong replied.
"You may not know, but during my recent ordeal at sea, I ended up on an island. There, I discovered a new site where Poseidon Grass grows."
"So the new Poseidon Grass your people found it was from that island?" Chu Xu narrowed his eyes.
"No, if that were all, you wouldn't play your hand so easily. What are you holding back?"
"That new Poseidon Grass was cultivated using a special method," she said.
"What method? Tell me, and I'll give you 10% of all future research profits."
That was already a very generous offer.
If Chu Xu could mass-produce this grass, giving Su Mandong 10% could easily make her one of the most powerful people under him.
"I want a fair partnership," Su Mandong said.
"This is fair. Most people wouldn't even get a meeting with me. I'm giving you this out of respect for your ancestor.
Don't overestimate yourself luck alone won't keep you afloat on this stage."
"But this is my exclusive resource," Su Mandong smiled.
"Exclusive?" Chu Xu's eyes narrowed, then glanced meaningfully at Lin Qianyi.
"How exclusive?"
Su Mandong felt huge pressure. Negotiating with this old fox was harder than dealing with top international business elites.
She hadn't wanted to bring Lin Qianyi here for this very reason.
But he insisted, and she couldn't refuse.
Now she was the one in a passive position.
"Only I can access it," she said firmly.
She was gambling hoping Lin Qianyi would back her.
But she wasn't too confident. After all, all she had was beauty and Lin Qianyi could have as much of that as he wanted if he played his cards right.
"It's him, isn't it?" Chu Xu looked at Lin Qianyi.
"Young man, I think you understand who I am. You're smart.
Whatever Su Mandong offers you I can offer more."
He had already reviewed Lin Qianyi's background and now understood: Lin Qianyi was the key.
Su Mandong hadn't come by her own initiative she'd been pressured into this.
That made it very interesting.
Could this seemingly innocent college student really dominate a corporate elite like Su Mandong?
"Poseidon, he's my partner," Su Mandong interjected nervously.
Chu Xu had bypassed her entirely and gone straight to Lin Qianyi. She was panicking.
"And what do you say, young man?" Chu Xu asked.
"I listen to Sister Su. Whatever she says goes," Lin Qianyi replied with an honest smile.
He didn't yet understand this world fully and wasn't ready to act independently.
Right now, Su Mandong served as both a shield and a guide for navigating powerful factions.
Chu Xu studied Lin Qianyi with interest.
"Loyalty. I like that. I value loyalty too."
He didn't believe it for a second.
He'd seen too many people. Lin Qianyi might be sincere, but at his core, he was still a creature of profit. Everyone was.
"Xiao Yi…" Su Mandong whispered.
She gently held Lin Qianyi's hand, touched by his support.
Lin Qianyi squeezed her hand back to reassure her and noticed her palm was soaked with sweat.
She was under intense pressure.
Chu Xu was a master. His methods were subtle, direct, and dangerously effective.
He had already planted a seed of doubt between them.
If Su Mandong stumbled later and that seed exploded, Chu Xu would be ready to reel Lin Qianyi in.
That kind of maneuver had played out in history time and again.
"So tell me, young man," Chu Xu asked.
"How did you do it?"
"Talent," Lin Qianyi said with a smile.
"An extraordinary gift I was born with."
As he spoke, he opened his palm revealing a multifunctional dagger then flipped it, making it disappear again.
Chu Xu's pupils contracted sharply.
For a moment, his expression betrayed shock, desire, and greed.
He quickly recovered but couldn't hide the tremor in his voice:
"Excellent.
It seems you are qualified for a fair partnership."