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nThe rocky plains in the otherworld was a strange area. One could only see the horizon in the distance, and it was unclear how large this area was.

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nEvery thousand meters or so, there was a huge rock the size of a small mountain. Various crawling creatures relied on the huge rocks as cover to hunt, hide, and reproduce.

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nThe rocks were not all non-living things. Some of them were stone golems.

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nThe stone golems were asleep 99% of the time. Unless one deliberately attacked it, it was difficult to tell if the rocks were alive or not.

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n…

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nA giant lizard lowered its head and hid in the shadow of a huge rock. It looked like a Komodo Dragon, but it was several times larger and was more than 10 meters long.

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nA long wound could be seen at the top of its thigh. Its thick scales were broken, and even though it was staying still on the ground, blood was still seeping out.

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nThe giant lizard exhaled from time to time and let out a low roar. The wound lit up with a bloody light, but a mysterious force prevented the wound from healing.

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nAt this moment, a team of explorers was hiding in the shadows a kilometer away. Using the huge rocks as cover, they stuck out their heads from time to time and stared at the injured giant lizard.

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n“Captain, that giant lizard shouldn’t be able to run anymore.”

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n“Let’s wait a little longer. We’re not in a hurry. Can’t you see that the wound can’t heal?”

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n“Captain, I just feel sad about the blood of the giant lizard being wasted like this. If we can capture it alive, I wonder how much those organizations that study bloodline warriors will pay to buy it from our team.”

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n“Capture it alive? It’s not that simple. We were lucky to have injured its thigh.”

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n“Sigh! If only we could find a few more exploration teams to work with. The scales, blood, claws, and other materials on the giant lizard’s body are all priceless.”

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n“It’s indeed a pity this time. I’ve decided that after we return to the stronghold, I’ll immediately contact some old friends and work together. We can’t miss this god-given opportunity.”

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nWhen Chen Yiming returned to the stronghold, he had given the order to the spiritual figure to go to the rocky plains to investigate the reason for the abnormality. He suspected that the Western martial master was hiding there and causing trouble.

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nThis giant lizard was also unlucky. It was affected by the battle between the spiritual figure and a powerful stone golem. It had only brushed past it and had almost died on the spot.

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nDue to the fact that its wounds could not heal for a long time, after the giant lizard escaped from the range of the battle, it could only find a place to hide. Otherwise, it would die just from the blood loss.

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nAt this moment, creatures from the otherworld that were severely injured or even killed on the spot could be found everywhere on the rocky plains. In the chaos, the exploration team had the chance to spy on the injured giant lizard instead.

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n…

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nAt the stronghold, in the military camp, Chen Yingying was drenched in sweat on the shooting range. She repeatedly practiced her archery, pulling back the bowstring then letting it go.

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nA woman from the military was standing more than a meter away, pointing out Chen Yingying’s mistakes.

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nThis archery teacher did not look like a weak woman at all. She had tanned skin and toned muscles. Coupled with her dark green military uniform, she was filled with the aura of a wild beauty.

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nChen Yiming narrowed his eyes as he lay on a chair. Above his head was an insulated canopy.

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n“Ding!”

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nThe notifications rang out continuously.

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n“Skill points 1”

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n“Skill points 1”

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n“Skill points 1”

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n…

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n“The spiritual figure is really powerful. Am I going to be able to retire earlier than expected?”

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nHe sighed and looked at the shooting range. He had been supervising his sister’s archery practice, but in reality, most of his attention had landed on the female teacher in the military uniform.

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nEver since the spiritual figure became an independent being and knowing that it could be revived even after death, he had a feeling that the rest of his life would most likely become like a game.

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n“Was there something wrong with that Western martial master’s body to begin with? Otherwise, how could he be so cowardly and hide away somewhere and cause trouble in the dark?”

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nAt this thought, Chen Yiming’s head hurt.

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nHe was not afraid of the other party, but it was not a good thing for his stronghold to be targeted by a poisonous snake. As a result, he and the spiritual figure had to guard the stronghold at all times.

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nOtherwise, it would only take the blink of an eye for a martial master to wipe out the entire stronghold.

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n“Forget it. It’s useless to think too much about it. What I should consider now is to eliminate the creatures from the otherworld around the stronghold as soon as possible and establish the foundation for Jiangnan province.

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nIf that coward at the master realm dares to show his face, with two against one, won’t it be a simple matter?”

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nAfter Chen Yiming thought it through, he felt relieved.

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n“But… how should I maximize the value of the surrounding area?”

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nA new problem arose.

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nIt was indeed simple for him to send out the spiritual figure to kill all the creatures nearby. However, even if he did not consider anything else, it would still be too easy for the stronghold to obtain the loot this way.

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nIn that case, it would only benefit a small number of martial arts factions and the military. The ordinary people would be limited by their strength, and the benefits they could obtain would be limited.

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n“War is the best catalyst. Everyone has to be involved.”

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nChen Yiming came up with a vague plan. He wanted to use the spiritual figure to incite a war and make the stronghold into a real human city.

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nHe used the finance industry in his previous world as a reference, and treated the otherworld as a base. He was the largest banker on the human side. The government and martial arts factions were equivalent to large and small bankers respectively. Those who did not join the factions were independent investors.

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nHe wanted to use the stronghold as a platform to guide the direction of the war with the creatures from the otherworld so that everyone could follow the spiritual figure and explore the otherworld.

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n…

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nTwo hours later, “Brother, why are you lying down? Are you slacking off?” Chen Yingying asked while she took a water break.

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n“What does a child like you know? This is a meditation cultivation technique. You will understand when you start to break through to the master realm,”

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nChen Yiming continued to lie on the chair and said shamelessly.

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nDoubts? In any case, his sister could not understand it, and the military teacher who taught her archery could not understand it either. What he said would be taken as the truth.

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nChen Yingying could not refute him. She picked up a fan from the table beside her and fanned herself. Her long hair, which was drenched in sweat, fluttered in the air.

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nAbout five minutes later, “Break time is over.”

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nWu Youjia, who had been keeping track of the time, reminded her.

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nShe had been arranged to teach Chen Yingying archery on short notice. Before she came, the general had instructed her to take the teaching job seriously. He had also reminded her who the young man at the shooting range was.

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nAlthough Chen Yiming’s deeds were widely known, because he didn’t like to be exposed to the public, the Jiangnan provincial government only had a description of him in their publicity materials.

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nIf one had not met him before, they would not have known that the young man was that man.

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n“Alright!”

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nChen Yingying put down her fan and prepared to continue practicing her archery.

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nAt this moment, “Teacher Wu, can you stop for a moment and help me find a wooden board?”

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nChen Yiming suddenly had an idea.

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n“Don’t call me that. Just call me Xiao Wu,” Wu Youjia said with a reserved expression. She did not have the strict air she had displayed when she was teaching Chen Yingying.

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nAfter she finished speaking, she turned around and left without even asking why.

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n“Brother, why are you looking for a wooden board?” Chen Yingying asked curiously as she watched the archery teacher leave.

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n“To do something big, of course.”

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nChen Yiming rolled his eyes at his sister.

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n“Something big?”

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n“That’s right. Soon, every word on it will be studied by everyone.”

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nChen Yiming drew a picture in his mind and replied confidently to his sister.

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n“Brother, don’t be so mysterious. What exactly is this about?” Chen Yingying quickly asked.

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n“Just wait and see. I can’t explain it to you now,” Chen Yiming said.

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nIn reality, this was just a spur of the moment thought. He was not sure if things would go according to his expectations.

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nTherefore, he could not say it now in case things did not work out and he was not able to smooth things over.

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n…

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nBefore long, Wu Youjia returned to the shooting range carrying a wooden board that was about three meters long and two meters wide.

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n“Is it big enough? If it’s not, I’ll look for something else.”

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nA stronghold in the otherworld was not as convenient as one in Jiangnan province. It was not like they could immediately make arrangements if they wanted to get something.

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nChen Yiming nodded and said, “Just put the wooden board on the ground.”

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nWu Youjia put down the wooden board and stood beside Chen Yingying, watching quietly. Chen Yingying was very curious, and her gaze was urging Chen Yiming to hurry up.

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nHe no longer deliberately kept them in suspense. He raised his hand and the golden internal force instantly surged out. Using his finger as a pen, he wrote the four words “Great Rocky Stone Plains” on the wooden board.

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nWith the enhancement from the Undying Body talent, the golden internal force could last for a long time before dissipating. He was not afraid that someone would tamper with it, nor was he afraid that someone would copy it. It was very secure.

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n“Brother, this… Are you practicing calligraphy?” Chen Yingying asked doubtfully.

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nAfter arriving at the stronghold, she also learned some general knowledge about the otherworld. She knew that the rocky plains were the stronghold’s name for a certain area.

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nChen Yiming didn’t think much of it. He stood with his hands behind his back and maintained his mysterious and aloof image.

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nHow could a little girl like Chen Yingying understand things at the level of a big shot? The meaning behind these words was that he wanted to spread the news and guide everyone in the stronghold to work together to attack this place.

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n“Teacher Wu, do you see anything?” Chen Yingying asked the archery teacher beside her in a low voice.

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n“Your brother is too amazing!” Wu Youjia praised with a serious expression.

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nShe could feel how powerful the golden internal force was. Not only was its aura unimaginably dense, but its stability was also unheard of. It had actually left his control, but she could not see it dissipating at all.

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nAs for herself, she could transform her internal force, and when she shot an arrow, she could add a layer of internal force to the arrow, greatly increasing its lethality.

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nHowever, after leaving her control, her internal force could only maintain a stable state for a short while due to the influence of natural forces. It was enough to use as an attack, but it was impossible for her to do what he was doing.

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nChen Yiming admired his masterpiece and felt that it was not bad. He said to Wu Youjia,

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n“Help me make a billboard out of the wooden board later and stick it in the square at the exit of the space-travel passage.”

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n…

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nHalf an hour later, in the square at the exit of the space-travel passage,

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ndozens of soldiers walked out of a street. Someone in front was in charge of clearing the way, and more than 10 people behind were carefully carrying a huge wooden billboard.

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n“What are they doing?”

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n“That wooden board seems to be glowing.”

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n“Look carefully. There are four words written in gold on the wooden board.”

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n“Great Rocky Stone Plains? What does that mean?”

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nWherever these soldiers passed, the pedestrians on the street started to discuss among themselves.

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nThe movements of the military had always guided the direction for the stronghold since it was first established. Everyone took their actions seriously.

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nWhen the soldiers placed the billboard in the middle of the square, the news had already spread throughout the stronghold. The crowd gathered in the square from all directions, all wanting to know what had happened in the stronghold.

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n…

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nThe Myriad Phenomena Restaurant opposite the exit of the space-travel passage was one of the shops beside the square that was the property of the Myriad Phenomena Sect in the otherworld.

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nOn the second floor of the restaurant, all the customers had gathered in front of the French windows to watch what was happening in the square.

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n“Great Rocky Stone Plains? Are they asking us to head to this area?”

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n“I think he’s reminding everyone that something has happened in the rocky plains and warning us not to go.”

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n“The military has already released the news that it was written by that man. The martial master is more than enough to suppress all the chaos. How could he be warning us not to go?”

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n“Sigh! The otherworld is so troublesome. We can’t use our phones, and we have to rely on manpower to pass on the news. Otherwise, we can just call the people there and find out the situation.”

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nAlmost all the customers who could spend their time at the Myriad Phenomena Restaurant were members of martial arts factions. The news from the military immediately came to them.

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nHowever, since Chen Yiming didn’t explain it to his sister’s archery teacher, the military couldn’t understand what he really meant.

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nThey could only quickly send someone to the rocky plains to check out the situation.

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n…

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nOn the south side of the stronghold, there was a three-story building with the sign “Hengrui Research Institute”.

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nThe Hengrui Research Institute was a powerful national research institute in Jiangnan province. It could also be ranked in the top 30 in the Daxia Kingdom all year round.

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nThanks to the fact that it had always been a research institute under Jiangnan province, under the recent changes in policy, it was developing very quickly.

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nHowever, due to the restrictions of the otherworld, it was impossible to move a large number of laboratories in. The main experiments were still carried out in the headquarters in Jiangnan province, and they could only rent a small building to use as a simple laboratory in the stronghold.

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nIn a small meeting room on the third floor, the head of the institute, Zhang Rui, sat at the head of the table and said, “Everyone, speak freely. Share your thoughts.”

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nThere was a deputy director, a professor-level project leader, and some experienced laboratory technicians.

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n“I think our research institute doesn’t have enough combatants. It’s not too late to observe for a while before taking action.”

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n“I think we should send someone back to Jiangnan province immediately and mobilize people from the research institute’s headquarters. Not only will we need combatants, but we also need experimental and administrative personnel.”

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n“I think not only should we immediately mobilize our people, but we should also actively work with the martial arts factions that have always had a good relationship with us to make up for the weakness of the combatants in our research institute.”

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n“There’s one thing we don’t even need to discuss. With the example of an evil organization being forcefully suppressed by that man, the Hengrui Research Institute doesn’t need to hesitate at all. Something big must have happened.”

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n“Let me add something. Now, the stronghold is not only filled with factions from Jiangnan province, but also from other provinces. Competition is inevitable, and the Hengrui Research Institute needs to be more proactive. It is only right to take a certain amount of risk.”

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nMost of the opinions were that they should take action immediately, and only a few people maintained a conservative view.

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nThe head of the institute, Zhang Rui, also wanted to take action. He was looking further ahead than his subordinates.

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nFrom the fact that the evil organization had been forcefully suppressed, although he did not know the details, he could tell that the situation was developing in a good direction. That man was not afraid of the Western corporations targeting him at all.

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nThis way, it would not be long before the development of the otherworld would start in earnest. There was no doubt about it.

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nThis was the general trend. If the Hengrui Research Institute did not fight for it, they might fall behind one day. The stronger one would get stronger, while the weaker ones would get weaker.

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