Chapter 173: One Hundred and Sixty Billion

The "Guardian"'s synchronized global strike against "Deepsea Technology" and its affiliated forces was like a blood-red storm sweeping through the underworld, completing its purge within twenty-four hours with astonishing efficiency and ruthless precision.

Over seventeen secret bases and laboratories were uprooted; critical data and evidence were seized or destroyed. The multinational pharmaceutical giant "Creation International," deeply entangled with "Deepsea Technology," saw three core board members "accidentally" die under heavy security, while multiple executives vanished mysteriously, paralyzing its global operations and triggering a stock collapse. Several offshore accounts providing money laundering and protection for it were mysteriously frozen and emptied.

There was no conventional war with smoke and fire—only intelligence so precise it was horrifying, technological suppression far beyond the era, and merciless decapitation strikes.

When the twenty-four-hour deadline ended, "Deepsea Technology" and its allies, once dominant in the shadows, had crumbled entirely, leaving only insignificant minnows trembling in fear, awaiting a trial that might never come.

The name "Guardian" was etched in iron and blood onto the highest threat lists of every major global power and intelligence agency—an indelible imprint. Mysterious, powerful, brutal in method—it became its synonym.

And Qin Feng, the architect behind it all, after the "Zerg Spores" crisis was resolved, quietly boarded a private jet and returned to Yunding Mansion in Jincheng.

In the study, lights blazed brightly.

Qin Feng sat behind a large desk, listening to Sun Zhe's report. Su Wenqian stood quietly beside him, pouring him a cup of black tea at the perfect temperature.

"... In summary, the residual value of 'Deepsea Technology' and 'Creation International,' including assets we have frozen and 'recovered,' after preliminary accounting and removal of toxic components, totals approximately..." Sun Zhe took a deep breath; even he, accustomed to massive sums, now spoke with a barely perceptible tremor, naming a number so astronomical:

"One hundred and sixty billion... dollars."

One hundred and sixty billion! Dollars!

Converted to RMB, over one trillion!

This was a figure capable of collapsing the economy of a small developed nation—or instantly elevating a multinational corporation to dominance. It even surpassed the combined public wealth of many of the world's most famous billionaires!

Even Qin Feng, upon hearing this number, paused slightly, his teacup held mid-air. He knew the "Cleanup" would yield great gains—but never this much! The wealth "Deepsea Technology" had amassed over the years through illegal experiments, technological monopolies, and collusion with "Creation International" was simply horrifying.

"This capital is complex in origin and entangled with numerous parties," Sun Zhe added cautiously. "Though we've already conducted preliminary 'cleaning' through multiple offshore companies and financial mechanisms, a single influx into the market would still trigger massive vibration and attention."

Qin Feng set down his teacup and gently tapped his fingers against the smooth desktop, producing a crisp sound.

One hundred and sixty billion dollars...

This was no longer simple wealth accumulation—it was a colossal capital force capable of leveraging global financial order and reshaping international power structures!

His original plan had been to use this capital to further consolidate and expand his commercial empire, accelerating the unlocking of "Super Technology" and "Wealth Prediction."

But now, gazing at the progress bars in his system—both already at 99% for "Super Technology Unlock" and 96% for "Wealth Prediction Unlock"—a bolder, crazier idea began to form in his mind.

Money, to him, was increasingly just a number. The key was how to use this number to achieve grander goals, to touch the system's ultimate secrets faster.

"Sun Zhe." Qin Feng spoke, his voice calm, yet carrying the weight of destiny.

"Yes, Mr. Qin." Sun Zhe instantly straightened his posture.

"This one hundred and sixty billion dollars—do not touch it." Qin Feng spoke slowly. "Use it as the permanent capital of the 'Wind Rises Future Fund.'"

"Permanent capital?" Sun Zhe froze. This meant the colossal sum would no longer engage in conventional investment or profit-seeking—it would become a mother fund, existing forever, drawing only from its returns or partial principal to support specific projects. Such a move was extraordinarily rare in finance, especially with capital of this scale!

"Correct." Qin Feng stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the glittering city below. "The fund's sole purpose is to invest without expectation of return into fields capable of propelling humanity's collective leap forward."

He turned, his gaze blazing as he looked at Sun Zhe and Su Wenqian:

"Frontier basic science—especially theoretical breakthroughs in physics, mathematics, and life sciences!"

"Disruptive technologies—such as controlled nuclear fusion, quantum computing, and interstellar travel!"

"Human potential development—including gene optimization, brain-computer interfaces, and lifespan extension!"

"And defense technologies against potential... extraterrestrial civilizations or higher-dimensional threats!"

Each field represented the boundary of human understanding and the direction of the future—vast black holes swallowing capital, and yet... the very "nourishment" the system most needed for unlocking and upgrading!

Sun Zhe and Su Wenqian were left speechless, stunned by Qin Feng's grandiose, almost insane vision. This was no longer business—it was an attempt to use money to forcibly carve a highway to humanity's future!

"But... Mr. Qin, these fields carry extreme risk, extremely long cycles, and may even... result in total loss." Sun Zhe spoke with difficulty.

"I know." Qin Feng smiled faintly, a smile radiating absolute confidence and a detached, godlike calm. "But I can afford to lose this much."

"Moreover," he paused, his eyes gleaming with all-seeing insight, "do you think that when we master controlled nuclear fusion, achieve interstellar travel, or even merely extend human lifespan dramatically—will wealth still mean what it does today?"

Sun Zhe and Su Wenqian fell silent again. They understood Qin Feng's meaning. When technology undergoes qualitative change, the existing economic system and concept of wealth may be utterly overturned. The capital invested now might yield returns in the future beyond monetary measure—perhaps technological hegemony, new resources, or even... the continuation of civilization.

"I understand." Sun Zhe took a deep breath, his eyes ignited with unprecedented determination. "I will immediately assemble the most elite team to manage the 'Wind Rises Future Fund' and screen its projects!"

"Sister Su." Qin Feng turned to Su Wenqian.

"Command, sir." Su Wenqian bowed slightly.

"You will assist Sun Zhe in daily fund management and external liaison. Remember—our goal is not to make money, but to spend it: to pour this capital as quickly and as abundantly as possible into projects with genuine potential to reshape the future." Qin Feng emphasized.

"Yes, sir." Su Wenqian replied solemnly.

After arranging all this, Qin Feng waved them off to begin their tasks.

The study was left alone with him.

He summoned the system interface.

As soon as he issued the command determining humanity's future capital flow, the two progress bars that had long stalled emitted a pleasant chime and burst into unprecedented brilliant light!

【Ding! Host has established a terminal capital utilization philosophy centered on propelling civilizational leap—scale and influence have undergone qualitative transformation!】

【Super Technology Unlock Progress: 100%! Function fully unlocked!】

【Wealth Prediction Unlock Progress: 100%! Function fully unlocked!】

【Congratulations, Host. All core functions of the Quan Neng System are now activated!】

It worked!

A surge of indescribable excitement and anticipation rose within Qin Feng.

He first opened "Super Technology."

Unlike before, when it only offered specific blueprints or vague directions, the fully unlocked "Super Technology" interface had become a boundless, star-like ocean of knowledge! It categorized countless branches of technological trees—from foundational materials to ultimate theories. With sufficient resources and requisite foundations, he could directly "unlock" and acquire complete technical data! From anti-gravity engines to warp drives, from perfect gene editing to consciousness uploading... countless technologies once confined to science fiction now became possible!

Then he opened "Wealth Prediction."

The interface had undergone a revolutionary transformation. No longer merely predicting financial markets, it had become a multidimensional "Opportunity Insight" interface. It could, through massive data analysis and some mysterious causal inference, identify for Qin Feng any "value depression" or "fateful turning point" appearing globally within a future timeframe! It could mark an impending technological breakthrough, a newly discovered vital resource, a rising key figure, or even a... secret event capable of altering civilization's course!

The full unlocking of these two ultimate functions meant Qin Feng now possessed an almost limitless roadmap for technological advancement and a "prophetic" ability to foresee opportunities!

Combined with the "Zhu Long" military power he controlled, and the terrifying capital of 160 billion dollars...

Qin Feng felt a golden path to true supremacy had already been laid beneath his feet.

He walked to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of amber-colored cognac.

Gently swirled the wine glass, watching the endless night outside the window and the distant twinkling stars.

The fall of Deepsea Technology marked the end of the old era.

The founding of Wind Rises Future Fund, and the full unlocking of the system, announced the official beginning of a new era—wild and magnificent—led by Qin Feng.

He drained the wine in his cup.

The taste was rich and sharp.

Just like the path he had chosen.