Chapter 504: Make Zhou Luyao Regret? Tang Kun Was Dumbfounded!
Shen Anyu was determined to get that Portable Immortal Abode.
It could evade attacks from powerful enemies, inherently placing one in an invincible position. He didn't know the limits of the Portable Immortal Abode, but if it could be called an Immortal Abode, surely even a Golden Core Stage Cultivator couldn't deal with it, right? It might even be difficult for a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator to handle. The very concept of a personal, mobile fortress that could shrug off the world-rending power of such beings was a temptation beyond measure. It wasn't just a defensive tool; it was a guarantee of survival, a foundation from which he could operate with near-total impunity.
Moreover, the greatest value of the Portable Immortal Abode was its ability to grow various crops with miraculous effects, such as the Longevity Fruit that could increase Lifespan, and the Yellow Millet that could increase cultivation... Those were not mere plants; they were treasures that defied the heavens, resources that could forge a legion of loyal, powerful followers or elevate his own strength to unprecedented heights. The Yellow Millet alone could shave decades, even centuries, off his cultivation path, allowing him to leapfrog through bottlenecks that trapped others for a lifetime. The Longevity Fruit was even more priceless; the ability to bestow longer life was a power that even emperors of old could only dream of. It was the ultimate currency of loyalty.
No one wasn't envious of these good things, and Shen Anyu was no exception. He could already envision it: a self-sustaining paradise under his complete control, producing an endless supply of divine herbs and fruits, all while keeping him safe from any and all threats. The strategic implications were staggering.
If he had the Portable Immortal Abode, Shen Anyu would surely be like a tiger with wings. It would amplify every one of his strengths and eliminate his few remaining vulnerabilities.
'First, I'll try to approach through the Destined Heroine Yang Qiuchan,' Shen Anyu schemed, his mind a whirlwind of intricate plans. 'She's the key link to Wu Ming. If that doesn't work, I'll think of other methods. Fortunately, Wu Ming, this Child of Destiny from the False way (Gou Dao) Rebirth genre, isn't very aggressive or dangerous and won't actively attack. His entire philosophy is to lay low, gather strength in the shadows, and avoid confrontation until victory is absolute. He's a viper in the grass, not a roaring lion. Of course, I can't relax either. A hidden enemy is often the most dangerous.'
Shen Anyu's eyes flickered as he finished his thoughts, a cold, predatory light dancing in their depths. He then casually picked up his phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he edited a series of encrypted messages. The instructions were concise and ruthless: find everything there is to know about Wu Ming and Yang Qiuchan. Every habit, every acquaintance, every secret—he wanted it all laid bare.
In addition, he also needed to investigate information about that stunning woman in the red dress. The dream was a hazy illusion, a tapestry woven from fragments of memory and desire, but it was not without its anchor points. Although the memories from the dream illusion were blurry, Shen Anyu found some clues from the fragrance of camellias that clung to the air like a ghost, the unique crescent shape and position of the moon in the dream-sky, the distinct topography of the mountain peak where they met, and so on. These were threads, however thin, and he would pull on them until the entire picture unraveled.
Under the immense human, financial, and material resources of Shen Anyu's subordinates, and without regard for cost, they should be able to uncover something. He was unleashing a silent army of investigators, analysts, and spies, a network that spanned the globe. Money was no object; results were all that mattered.
Shen Anyu was not someone who merely waited for beauty; he preferred to take the initiative, to seize fate by the throat and bend it to his will.
And knowing oneself and one's enemy leads to a hundred victories; intelligence is paramount. This was the fundamental principle of his success.
Many Sons of Destiny lost precisely because of intelligence; they didn't understand Shen Anyu, while Shen Anyu knew them like the back of his hand. They were playing checkers while he was playing a multi-dimensional game of Go, seeing every possible move ten steps ahead.
If Sword God Ye Linyuan had known of Shen Anyu's existence in advance, and known that he had the remnant soul imprint of the Land Immortal Lord of the Sword Palace Lin Xuanyan from his previous life, then he would never have become the obedient, cute little Conan he was now. He would have recognized the existential threat and acted. Instead, he was trapped in a gilded cage, enjoying the comprehensive development of moral, intellectual,physical, and aesthetic education, along with a ton of textbooks and test papers given by Shen Anyu every day. Shen Anyu had seen the feed from the nanobots: the once-invincible Sword God, whose single glance could shatter mountains, now sat hunched over a desk, his brow furrowed in concentration as he wrestled with advanced physics, his sword-calloused fingers looking comically clumsy wrapped around a fountain pen.
If Long Hao, the Child of Destiny of the Rebirth Investment genre, had known of Shen Anyu's existence, with his Investment Return System, he could have caused Shen Anyu immense trouble. He could have preemptively invested in Shen Anyu's future enemies, building an alliance that might have actually posed a challenge. But he was blind, and his ignorance led him straight to his doom.
Wu Ming, this Child of Destiny of the False way (Gou Dao) Rebirth genre, was currently the first Child of Destiny to know of Shen Anyu's terrifying existence, and he had precautions. This was a new, unsettling variable in the equation. For the first time, his prey was aware of the hunter.
Although this type of Child of Destiny, Wu Ming, was not very aggressive or dangerous by nature, his caution made him unpredictable.
However, it also sounded an alarm for Shen Anyu: what if he encountered a Child of Destiny who knew him well and was highly aggressive and dangerous? A rabid wolf that knew exactly where to bite? The thought sent a cold flicker of awareness through him. Complacency was the seed of destruction.
'Strength, strength is the foundation of everything!' he thought, his resolve hardening into diamond.
'I must plunder as much destiny value as possible, and make good use of the Investment Return function. Every point of destiny is another brick in my fortress.'
'My own cultivation must also keep up. I cannot rely solely on systems and schemes.'
'Next, I must take down Tang Kun, that Takeout Tycoon Child of Destiny. He's the lowest hanging fruit. Then, contact Yang Qiuchan, the associated heroine of the False way (Gou Dao) Child of Destiny Wu Ming, followed by Goddess Doctor Murong Jieyu. Once Murong Jieyu is dealt with, I'll begin to wrap things up, taking care of Sword God Ye Linyuan and taking down Fairy Pei.'
'As for that stunning woman in the red dress, we'll meet in dreams every day, hehehe.'
Shen Anyu pondered these thoughts, his strategy crystallizing. Among them, Tang Kun, the Takeout Tycoon Child of Destiny, was the easiest to deal with. He was a bug, an amusing diversion. He only had a Takeout Tycoon System, which didn't involve supernatural abilities, and even at its peak, it would only be so-so. He was a threat only in the most mundane, financial sense.
"Brother Shen, what are you thinking about~"
Accompanied by a fragrant scent, a graceful figure had already pressed close to Shen Anyu. The soft, intoxicating perfume of jasmine and roses filled the air as Zhou Luyao draped herself over the back of his sofa, her body curving elegantly against his.
Zhou Luyao's beautiful eyes gazed at Shen Anyu, seemingly shrouded in misty water vapor, a silent invitation that amplified the astonishing charm already present in the arch of her brows. Her red lips parted lightly, her breath like orchids, as she actively helped Shen Anyu massage his shoulders. Her touch was skillful, her fingers finding the knots of tension he didn't even know he had, her warmth seeping through his shirt.
Young Master Shen was in a joyful mood, allowing her to pamper him as he replied to various messages while checking the movements of various Destined Heroines and Sons of Destiny through the nanometer monitoring robot. A dozen different video feeds played out in his mind's eye, a tapestry of lives he was about to unravel.
'This guy Tang Kun, when delivering takeout, goes to great lengths to get five-star reviews from customers, even offering money? Does his Takeout Tycoon System have a penalty if the takeout delivery isn't successful?'
Shen Anyu observed Tang Kun's movements, deep in thought. The System's initial brief on Tang Kun was just a high-level overview. It was rough, lacking nuance. But by watching his target's actions, Shen Anyu could deduce the hidden rules of the game. Through Tang Kun's desperate, almost pathetic attempts to get five-star reviews, Shen Anyu keenly sensed something was amiss.
The nanobot feed showed it clearly: Tang Kun delivering an order to an older woman who was clearly in a foul mood. She was about to tap the one-star rating when Tang Kun, face pale with panic, practically begged her to stop. He then shoved a thick wad of cash into her hand. Instead of accepting the bribe, the woman wanted to give a bad review. However, Tang Kun gave the older woman a thousand yuan, insisting on a five-star review.
Seeing how anxious Tang Kun was, Shen Anyu guessed that if there wasn't a five-star review, there would be a penalty, reduced rewards, or even more severe punishments. His system was likely a high-risk, high-reward model, but with brutally punishing downsides.
'What if I make Tang Kun unable to complete his takeout mission and receive a bad review?'
A playful glint flashed in Shen Anyu's eyes, and he became interested. This was a game, and he was curious to see what would happen when he started pulling the strings. For such a matter, a casual instruction sent to one of his underlings would naturally have someone do it for him. He wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
...
"Pfft, disgusting. At least a dozen years older than me, and two and a half sizes wider at the waist. What's wrong with calling you 'older sister'? And she wanted to give a bad review, ugly people cause more trouble!"
Tang Kun walked out of a commercial office building, grumbling, his face a mask of frustration and disgust. He was in a very bad mood.
Just now, delivering a takeout order, he encountered an older woman at least thirty-five years old, whose height and weight were the same, and whose waist was two and a half sizes wider than his own. When Tang Kun respectfully called her 'older sister' and handed over the takeout, the older woman immediately exploded as if he had insulted her entire lineage.
She almost slapped Tang Kun right there in the lobby.
"Older sister? Who are you calling older sister? Your whole family are older sisters!!!"
That sharp voice, like a blender churning gravel in his brain, still made Tang Kun's heart palpitate. The memory of her screeching made him shudder.
But he needed a five-star review. He absolutely needed it. Otherwise, his rewards would be reduced, and if there was a bad review or an uncompleted task, he would suffer even more terrifying punishments, such as his pride and joy shrinking, getting electrocuted by the system, turning into an effeminate man, losing a kidney, and so on. The list was long and horrifyingly creative.
The Takeout Tycoon System's grand claim was that as the most excellent delivery person, one absolutely could not have a bad review. It was a rule etched in digital stone.
Tang Kun had no choice but to humble himself and smile, swallowing his pride and anger. He forced a grin, changing the 'older sister' address to 'younger sister' and even offering a thousand yuan as an apology. He finally settled the matter, the woman snatching the money and tapping the five-star button with a final, withering glare.
[System Notification: Five-star review received. Mission reward has been tripled.]
[System Notification: You have completed 100 consecutive five-star deliveries. Unlocking special bonus reward: 1,500,000.00 yuan.]
Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
"Your bank card ending in 2567... transferred amount 1,500,000.00 yuan, current balance is 100,999,457.00!"
"Hahahaha, hahahaha, finally, the small goal of one hundred million has been achieved! This is only one day and one night! I'm rich, I'm rich!"
When he saw the long string of numbers in his bank card, the previous humiliation evaporated like dew in the morning sun. Tang Kun was so excited that he almost jumped up, his face flushed a deep crimson, his mouth wide open, giggling incessantly. The number glowed on his screen, a beacon of his new life.
Ignoring the expressions of passersby who looked at him like an idiot, Tang Kun giggled for a full few minutes, lost in a haze of pure, unadulterated ecstasy.
"I, Tang Kun, have truly turned my luck around. Zhou Luyao, you will definitely regret this, hahahaha..."
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