Chapter 307

After listening to a series of briefings, Ning Hai took a sip of wine and inquired about the progress of the maritime plan.

The person in charge said: "We have already set up supply stations on several islands in the middle of the Pacific, the route is basically determined, and in three months we will be able to extend the route far enough to cross the Pacific, bring the warships near that long island on the opposite shore, then build a military base and city on that island, using it as a springboard to enter the Asian continent and continue the conquest."

"That long island……" Ning Hai said lightly, "It's just some island nation in the Eastern Barbarians region of our original world, right?"

"Yes, Mr. Ning."

"What is the situation of that island nation in our world right now?"

"Reporting to Mr. Ning, according to archaeological records from our original world, corresponding to the current period in our world, that island should be at the end of the Stone Age, with no systematic civilization or state concept yet, mainly tribal settlements, and primitive agricultural planting techniques, pottery and bronze-making techniques have just begun to appear."

"Oh, then it's still pretty much like primitive tribes, even not as advanced as the budding Maya civilization here."

"Um…… you could say that."

"Then, the ancient Huaxia state on the Asian continent," Ning Hai said, his tone sinking a bit, "if I remember correctly, it should be the time when the feudal states were unified and the Mysterious Dynasty was established, right?"

"That's correct, Mr. Ning, but you can rest assured. Although compared to other contemporary civilizations, the Mysterious Dynasty's development speed and military strength are absolutely overwhelming, against our modern technological power it is merely a slightly larger ant, posing no threat to our global conquest."

"I certainly know these things," Ning Hai snorted coldly, "Heh, no matter how strong the Mysterious Dynasty is, it's still an ancient society from over two thousand years ago; how could it compare to our high-tech weapons?"

Back then, M Guo spared no expense to build the island base, secretly investing more than half of the nation's revenue, including most of the resources looted from the parallel world via the island base, which were also used in constructing the island base; most importantly, at that time M Guo sent top experts from every industry to the island base to assist Ning Hai.

Therefore, even though an accident fifteen years ago caused the entire island base to traverse to the ancient era of the parallel world, Ning Hai was still able to develop technology.

And he has become the supreme ruler here; in his eyes, everything in this world is but ants.

"In three months, be sure to seize the Eastern Barbarians archipelago, then quickly build a base to facilitate the conquest and sweep of Asia—dismissed!" Ning Hai issued the order facing the floor-to-ceiling window, without turning back.

"Yes, Mr. Ning!" The subordinates rose, bowed, and left one after another.

Ning Hai took out a communicator shaped like a cell phone, pressed a few buttons, waited for the connection, then said: "I just finished the meeting; come to the conference room."

Soon after, the conference room door opened.

Lu Xingfeng, wearing a combat uniform, strode in, his bionic mechanical right arm exposed, emitting a cold metallic sheen.

Though he is over fifty, he looks several years younger than fifteen years ago, his posture more upright and robust, with a head of thick black hair hanging to his waist, giving him a quite distinctive demeanor.

"Brother Hai, I'm here." Lu Xingfeng stared at the white-robed figure standing by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Ning Hai slowly turned around, revealing a face covered by a golden mask.

The accident fifteen years ago burned over ninety percent of Ning Hai's body; even though he survived by luck, his appearance was completely destroyed.

Although there are top medical experts both on the island base and at our military outpost here, they can only preserve his life, not restore his original appearance.

Moreover, he has been affected by abnormal energy; the burned areas remain in a semi-healed state, requiring medication every few days to stabilize the injury.

Therefore he can only wear a specially made loose robe to reduce friction on his skin, moving as little as possible in daily life.

"Old brother Feng, I personally brewed this wine, aged ten years—have a taste." Ning Hai slowly raised his hand, pointing to the liquor cabinet beside him.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." Lu Xingfeng strode over, opened the cabinet, pulled out a bottle, removed the cap, and gulped it down.

He finished the bottle in one go.

He loudly praised the wine.

Ning Hai laughed and said: "I really envy you, being able to gulp down wine like that; I can only occasionally sip a small cup, otherwise my body can't take it."

Lu Xingfeng licked the corner of his mouth and said: "I heard the genetics research department has made a new technological breakthrough; perhaps the medical department can't handle certain things, but maybe the genetics department could someday restore you to your original state."

Ning Hai was about to say a few words on that matter when he suddenly saw the conference hall door ajar, a figure swaying.

"Yao Yao, what are you sneaking around doing there?"

After all, it's his daughter; just from the blurry silhouette he already recognized her.

As his words fell, Ning Yao simply pushed the door open and entered.

Fifteen years have passed; although she is now in her thirties, her appearance remains as it was back then, even more beautiful and lively.

"Hehe… I just happened to pass by and wanted to take a look."

Ning Yao approached with a grin, and when she came near the two, she unconsciously winked at Lu Xingfeng.

And Lu Xingfeng's mouth corner twitched slightly.

The two's extremely subtle interaction at that moment did not escape Ning Hai's eyes.

Beneath the golden mask, his gaze grew colder by a fraction.

"Dad, what are you two talking about?" Ning Yao asked.

Ning Hai said lightly: "In three months I will begin the conquest of Asia, and I intend to appoint Lu Xingfeng as the overall commander."

Lu Xingfeng's eyes widened instantly, "Really?!"

"Of course it's true," Ning Hai continued, "You've always wanted to return to your homeland and fulfill your wish, haven't you? Unless, after all these years, you've let go of that woman you've been longing for."

Ning Hai still doesn't know who that woman Lu Xingfeng has been yearning for is, and of course he doesn't care.

As long as Lu Xingfeng can be of use to him, that's enough.

If Lu Xingfeng's obsession remains, he will surely spare no effort to clear all obstacles to Ning Hai's conquest of Asia.

"Of course I haven't let go!" Lu Xingfeng blurted out, his eyes flashing a hint of ruthlessness.

Meanwhile, Ning Yao's complexion turned unnatural, and the corners of her mouth were pulled down.

Ning Hai laughed: "Not letting go is good; otherwise I'd worry that after all these years you've lost your drive. Well, do a good job—when the time comes, let that woman crawl at your feet and become your slave."

"Thank you, Brother Hai!" Lu Xingfeng clasped his fists.

"Dad, I'm a bit tired; I'm going to rest, bye." Ning Yao glared at Lu Xingfeng, then turned and left.

Ning Hai narrowed his eyes and deliberately said: "Aren't you going to say goodbye to Uncle Lu? How impolite."

Ning Yao seemed not to have heard, she took even bigger steps, and even slammed the door hard as she left.

Lu Xingfeng's gaze became somewhat complex; after a brief thought, he lowered his head and said: "Brother Hai, then I'll take my leave as well, to prepare early for your Asian conquest operation."

"Hmm, go ahead." Ning Hai nodded.

Lu Xingfeng walked briskly toward the door while pondering how to explain things to Ning Yao later and coax her.

"Old brother Feng," Ning Hai suddenly said, "I have only this one daughter; she is my lifeline and my only relative. Her mother's final dying wish was that I must protect her no matter what, for which I can spare no expense. You also know, old brother, that not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry is worthy of her—I don't want anyone to harbor designs on her, so you'd better keep watch for me……"

This remark is loaded with meaning, carrying a warning.

Lu Xingfeng stopped his steps, turned his head and said: "Brother Hai, rest assured, I will do what I ought to do."

"Just perfect." Ning Hai's eyes narrowed beneath his mask, a cold light flashing.

Lu Xingfeng said nothing more and left the meeting room directly.

Ning Hai turned, faced the floor-to-ceiling window again, waved a hand, and the window displayed a world map image; he stared at the narrow, elongated island on the other side of the Pacific and murmured, "Asia, I'm coming……"

——

Xuan Guo, the royal palace's library.

Xiao Qidi spent several days and nights without sleep, flipping through countless books.

He discovered that some ancient books mentioned that cultivation could grant immortality, but the related content was too mystical and absurd to be believed.

After all, he had seen many people who used the pretense of cultivation and longevity to carry out deceit and fraud.

Otherwise, he would not have so decisively exterminated all the fangshi in Sun Yunzheng's faction.

However, this content was not entirely useless to him.

He was inspired and thought of the Tian Xuan Heart Method.

This is a martial art that only the successive sect leaders of the Tian Shu Sect can inherit, and it is the last genuine martial arts manual in this world.

Later, Sect Leader Ye Zhiqiu passed the Tian Xuan Heart Method to Ning Jinli.

And Ning Jinli also taught him the entire heart method, hoping to elevate his already profound cultivation to a higher level.

Over the years, he has been busy with state affairs, lacking much thought and time for dedicated training, yet even when he squeezes out time to practice, his strength continues to grow.

Although no one has said the Tian Xuan Heart Method can grant immortality, from his own personal experience it certainly helps strengthen the body and extend lifespan.

Thus, in recent years he has divided the method into several stages, compiled it into textbooks, and incorporated it into Xuan Guo's basic education, so that the new generation can practice it alongside their studies from childhood, aiming to gradually enhance the populace's physical fitness.

"Does combining the Tian Xuan Heart Method with modern biology have any promise?" Xiao Qidi muttered, frowning in thought.

"Uncle Qidi! I've found a way to achieve immortality!" Xiong Lie's excited shout came from the other side.

Without waiting for Xiao Qidi's response, Xiong Lie clutched an old bamboo slip and rushed to him like the wind.

"Look, here!" Xiong Lie hurriedly said, "It says that rumored in the eastern sea is an island named Penglai, the dwelling of immortals; if you find the Penglai immortal, you can obtain the elixir of immortality!"

Xiao Qidi chuckled lightly: "Oh, that's it; I heard about it when I was young. Moreover, through the documents Jinli gave me, I already know that the East Sea has not only Penglai Island but a whole chain of other islands; immortals are merely ancient fantasies."

"Ah? All that excitement for nothing..." Xiong Lie pouted disappointedly.

Xiao Qidi said: "Over there on that island, there are no immortals, only devils."

Xiong Lie wondered: "Devils? What does that mean, children of ghosts? But there are no such things as ghosts in the world."

Xiao Qidi thought for a moment, walked to another bookshelf, pulled out a book on the modern history of Huaxia Guo in a parallel world, and handed it to Xiong Lie, saying, "Take a look at this."

Xiong Lie scratched his head: "I haven't studied up to this point yet."

"Then just take a look," Xiao Qidi said, "with your learning ability, one read-through will make it clear."

"Okay." Xiong Lie took the book, ran to the desk, and began to read it carefully.

Xiao Qidi continued searching for materials and pondering his idea.

Unnoticed, it went from daytime to deep night.

"I'm so angry!" Xiong Lie suddenly shouted.

Then with a bang, the desk before him was smashed to pieces by his palm.

The contemplative Xiao Qidi was startled, hurried over, and asked what happened.

All that could be seen was Xiong Lie's chest heaving violently, his youthful yet sturdy face flushing between green and white, sparks flying from his eyes: "The Dongyi island nation is nothing but a bunch of heaven‑punished, earth‑destroyed beasts! They actually committed such heinous, inhumane atrocities against Huaxia! I wish I could tear them apart alive!"

Xiao Qidi understood: this kid had finished reading Ning Jinli's world's modern history of Huaxia Guo, and was obviously driven mad by the invasion and slaughter that Huaxia Guo suffered over two thousand years later.

"Uncle Qidi!" Xiong Lie's eyes bloodshot, fists clenched, "I want to destroy the Dongyi island nation! So that our world won't suffer such a tragedy later! The history says Dongyi has harbored wolfish ambitions toward Huaxia since its inception; no matter how many years pass, its treacherous heart never dies! I'd rather crush it from the start! Leave no future calamity!"

Xiao Qidi soothed: "I will take action, don't rush."

Xiong Lie could clearly not restrain himself, eager for Xiao Qidi to immediately send troops against Dongyi, and on a whim said: "Killing the Dongyi devils can increase one's lifespan!"

Xiao Qidi blinked: "Where did you see that claim?"

Xiong Lie solemnly said: "I just looked up some related documents, which mention that in that world Huaxia Guo endured arduous struggle, ultimately victorious, and many heroes who slew numerous enemies in the resistance lived to over a hundred years old! Isn't that proof that killing devils extends lifespan? Adding a few years, ten or twenty years is still an increase!"

Xiao Qidi stared for a few seconds, then laughed and cried, rubbing his forehead: "You little rascal… you went to all this trouble just to urge me to act sooner."

Though his little scheme was seen through at a glance, he still stubbornly retorted: "Anyway I think it makes sense; in short, swiftly destroying Dongyi is definitely right!"

Xiao Qidi pondered a moment, his eyes turning sharp: "Well, now that Xuan Guo has unified the Huaxia Zhong Yuan region and the domestic situation is fully stable, it's indeed time to continue expanding our territory."

He recalled that night's dream, in which Ning Jinli produced a world map and said that beyond Xuan Guo lay an even vaster world.

The meaning represented by the dream is more a projection of the dreamer's inner thoughts.

Xiao Qidi originally wanted to carve out as vast a territory as possible for posterity, and to eradicate future calamities as much as possible.

Furthermore, perhaps with territorial expansion we could find new materials elsewhere that aid in breaking through time‑travel technology.

The fact that Ning Jinli's world has not yet been found does not mean this world cannot be found.

Because, even if the two parallel worlds are roughly similar in structure, but also have the possibility of differing in some aspects.

Perhaps a certain material element does not exist over there, while over here it might indeed exist.

"Brother Qidi! Are we going to dispatch troops to the East Sea right away? I want to join too! I want to be a vanguard warrior, personally landing on the island to fight!" Xiong Lie urged impatiently.