After truly experiencing the benefits of the candles, Li Changfeng and the others reported back to their respective families. At the same time, he also sent a brief report to Chen Xi.
Upon receiving the report, Chen Xi immediately called Chen Jianshan.
"According to Li Changfeng's report, his invention indeed effectively promotes Spirit Qi absorption. As for side effects... none have been discovered yet."
"Good, good, good." Chen Jianshan uttered three "goods" in a row. "I didn't expect a casual move, a mere side gambit, to yield such quick returns. Contact him again and have him provide you with more samples. Then, find ordinary people to test it. It's not enough for it to only be effective on Ability Users; it must be safe and effective for ordinary people too."
"But... don't you think this thing is too low-tech? It's just a candle."
"That's not the point, Xi. The point is its effect. The ancient book in that young man's possession is the most important thing. This is merely his way of throwing a stone to ask for directions, testing the possibility of a long-term cooperation."
"I cut the images into small pieces and gave them to many experts, but they haven't successfully translated anything yet. So, for now, I've decided to continue cooperating with him. What we lack most now is time."
"So, can't we just bring him in first?" Chen Xi thought of a more direct approach.
"A young man with such a great fortuitous encounter currently possesses immense Qi Luck. Making a move against him could easily lead to unforeseen complications. Moreover, some people are inherently insane; coercion will only yield the worst results." Chen Jianshan uttered these strange words.
As a traditional elder, he firmly believed in things like Feng Shui and Qi Luck. He could roughly guess that what the young man he was dealing with possessed must have come from a fortuitous encounter, and that he was merely using the guise of research results to monetize it.
Because Bai Mo was too young, so young that it aroused Chen Jianshan's suspicion. He had personally reviewed the young man's profile, and he had never been considered a genius. Such a sudden discovery was very likely a fortuitous encounter.
And the first time he saw the young man, he, having met countless people, discovered beneath the other party's calm exterior, a fleeting glint of madness in his eyes.
Of course, his greatest apprehension still lay with Bai Mo's power. The day of the interview had truly shocked him. That was a power that simply did not belong to humans!
Such power, if he were willing to kill him outright, without regard for consequences, his bodyguards alone very likely wouldn't be able to stop him.
"Go ahead and contact him, ask for his opinion, and see how he plans to handle this invention. The interests involved here are too great; the nation's interests must take precedence."
"I had people thoroughly investigate his background again. It's highly probable that he discovered some ancient ruins during the Spirit River Autumn in Hawaii, because someone reported having seen him arrive alone at the local volcano the day before the Spirit River appeared." Chen Jianshan spoke of his subordinates' investigation results.
"Yes."
"You may go."
"He even has some connection with the old man from the Hua family..." After Chen Xi left, Chen Jianshan picked up another file. It recorded Bai Mo's relationship with Hua Taishan and a few others. He wasn't willing to completely alienate him, also considering this factor; they still needed to be given some face.
...
"May I ask if you're free this afternoon?" Chen Xi dialed Bai Mo's number.
"Yes."
"We'd like to discuss the matter of the candles."
"Alright."
"See you at 3 PM."
Bai Mo, hanging up the phone, was not excited by the beautiful woman's spontaneous invitation to meet. Instead, he continued to ponder his next move.
"This afternoon, she'll simply tell me how incredibly significant these candles are, that the power struggles behind them are not something a small fry like me can participate in. Even if I'm the inventor, I'll definitely have to let go, and then they'll compensate me in some other way."
"But the key is, how can I maximize my own interests? Someone like me, who isn't good at bargaining, will definitely be at a disadvantage negotiating with a woman whose expertise lies in administrative dealings."
Bai Mo racked his brain for a long time, and in the end, he surprisingly found a solution to maximize his relative interests from an unexpected source...
At 2:50 PM, Bai Mo, who always habitually arrived ten minutes early, had just stepped through the door of Xing Yu Cafe when the welcoming girl at the entrance, as if Bai Mo were a regular, enthusiastically led him into a private room. There, he saw Chen Xi, who had arrived twenty minutes early.
"What a warm welcome."
"I just gave her three hundred yuan, and showed her your photo, then asked her to invite you in when you arrived."
"Although these candles are useful, their inherent technological content is too low. I believe you understand this point. We simply don't want to waste time deciphering the formula within. Therefore, we can offer you a reasonable price to directly buy out the formula you possess." Chen Xi feigned ignorance of his secret.
"It's pretty much what I expected."
"What kind of compensation do you want?" Although backed by the government, she was certain to acquire this item, but for this rather fortunate young man, she still wanted to try her best to win him over.
"How about this, let's make a bigger deal. I'll give you more of what's hidden behind this, in exchange for three conditions from you."
"Speak." Only then did Chen Xi realize her grandfather's foresight.
"First, I want one hundred million."
"That's not a problem." One hundred million is an astronomical figure for ordinary people, but for the upper echelons of Huaxia, it's merely a drop in the bucket.
"Second, I want a position as a formal researcher at the Spirit Energy Research Institute. Not just a lowly assistant."
"The higher-ups were already considering inviting you in. That request can be overlooked."
"Third, this is the crucial one." Bai Mo looked at Chen Xi with fervent eyes, staring until she felt a little numb.
"S-speak..." She felt something was off about his gaze; her voice had become faint.
"I hope the nation can establish a Contribution Points system, allowing everyone to exchange Contribution Points for data related to Spirit Qi research and cultivation, as well as precious materials and the like. Conversely, those who contribute relevant materials or data can obtain corresponding Contribution Points. Then, open a channel for the exchange between Contribution Points and existing currency."
Chen Xi was stunned by this enormous plan. She had originally thought this man would have some strange request, and was ready to alert her bodyguards. However, she found that Bai Mo's thoughts were completely different from her own.
His thinking was already akin to a professional forensic pathologist, starting to entertain the idea that 'living people are just walking corpses.'
Chen Xi, having snapped back to reality, began to ponder Bai Mo's words. But she quickly realized that the interests involved in this matter were immeasurably greater than those of the Spirit Stone candles. It would likely require a prolonged period of negotiation and struggle.
"By establishing such a system, what do you intend to gain from it?" Chen Xi asked, bewildered.
"I don't intend to gain anything. A fair system itself is the greatest profit, far more important than immediate gains."
"You're an idealist." She suddenly felt that even if his final request had been a dozen beautiful women, it would have been far better than such a strange demand.
Her extensive negotiation experience told her that the most difficult people in this world to deal with, besides lunatics, were idealists like him. Because they would never learn to compromise. Someone incapable of compromise fundamentally lacked the premise for negotiation.
"He who desires nothing is strong" is their best description.
"Thank you."
"However, this matter is definitely not something I can approve. Minister Chen can't either."
"But I believe this proposal will be approved. It's better than resorting to cunning appropriation and plunder every time a major discovery is made. Oppression by force will only alienate people's hearts in the end, draining the pond to catch all the fish.
When I go back, I will inform Minister Chen and have him organize this meeting."
"I know you've checked my phone."
...
After Bai Mo uttered those words, the atmosphere abruptly changed!
Chen Xi said nothing. She had two bodyguards outside, and was an Ability User herself. She shouldn't have needed to fear him silencing her. But for some reason, looking at the man before her, she felt an extreme sense of danger.
"No need to wonder. I can kill you, and before your two bodyguards outside can even react." Bai Mo deliberately created some psychological pressure, laying the groundwork for his next words.
"Is this a threat?"
"You really want those two items?"
"Would you actually sell them?" Although her life was threatened, Chen Xi still maintained her negotiating stance, trying her best not to soften.
"If you can give me fifty million Huaxia coins every month, I can hand it over to you after a year." Bai Mo uttered words that shocked her.
"You're really willing to sell it? There's nothing wrong with this thing, is there?" In Chen Xi's view, acquiring such a treasure, silently making a fortune for oneself was the best choice. She didn't quite understand why this young man would choose to sell it.
As for the fifty million itself, she didn't care much.
This was something that could grant people power and extend their lifespan! How many would go mad for it!
"I need time and a lot of money to transform this fortuitous encounter into power. If I can't decipher the other things on it within a year, then these two ancient scriptures might as well be sold to you." He continued to speak freely, pretending to be a naive young man who had stumbled upon a great fortuitous encounter.
"If you can't decipher it, then how did the candles come about?" Chen Xi persisted stubbornly.
"The candles were buried as funerary objects in a cave dwelling... There was also half a real one left, so it was just a matter of imitating it." Bai Mo continued his story.
"What if we don't agree, and expose this matter?!"
"With my current strength, at least everyone in your Chen family, and many of those who want to hunt me down, will be buried with me. Why bother? Wouldn't a normal cooperation be better?" Before Chen Xi could even react, Bai Mo gently pinched her slender neck, his fingers lightly tracing circles on it.
Looking into his eyes, Chen Xi had no doubt that in the next second, if she didn't agree, Bai Mo would mercilessly strike, without any reservations.
Such a person, whether you call him tenacious or insane, was, in any case, an existence normal people found difficult to comprehend.
"You are very beautiful, but unfortunately, the world I see is different." After receiving an affirmative answer, Bai Mo released his hand, and said some inscrutable words.
"Miss Chen, it was a pleasure cooperating." In the blink of an eye, Bai Mo, his expression shifting to that of a shy student, extended his right hand again, though this time for a handshake.
"He's absolutely schizophrenic! A lunatic!" Chen Xi sat in the car, looking at the two guards beside her, finally feeling some sense of security.
"Is—that—so?"
After returning to the Chen family estate, the three of them discovered that on the backs of their clothes, two characters had been carved into each.
They broke out in a cold sweat.