Chapter 178

Long Xiansheng's visit was like a stone cast into a calm lake; after the ripples faded, it left no substantial impact on Qin Feng's life. A silent understanding seemed to have been reached between them—at least on the surface, Qin Feng's extraordinary behavior was no longer directly interfered with. Perhaps they were watching. Perhaps evaluating. Perhaps brewing something.

Qin Feng welcomed the peace, continuing to devote his energy to deepening his exploration of the system and expanding his influence.

Yet, when the tree wishes for stillness, the wind refuses to cease.

That day, Qin Feng was simulating key nodes of a long-range communication technology based on Quantum Entanglement within the Super Technology virtual interface when Su Wenqian knocked and entered, her face unusually grave—and… angry?

"Sir, forgive the interruption," Su Wenqian's voice was lower than usual.

"Hmm?" Qin Feng pulled his attention from the vast stream of data and looked at her. For Su Wenqian, always composed, to wear such an expression—this was no ordinary matter.

"It's… about the Xiao Family."

"The Xiao Family?" Qin Feng frowned slightly, searching his memory. The surname rang a faint bell—it was a prominent clan in the Capital, deeply rooted, with considerable influence in both politics and business. But he had never interacted with them; they kept to their side, he to his.

"What did they do?"

Su Wenqian handed Qin Feng the Tablet Computer in her hand. It displayed several encrypted intelligence reports and screenshots.

"Xiao Chen, the legitimate heir of this generation of the Xiao Family, is a notorious playboy. Recently, he set his sights on a newly signed actress from our Fengqi Entertainment, Lin Wan'er. After she clearly refused, Xiao Chen used his influence to pressure her—causing her to lose several already-negotiated endorsements and scripts, and spreading rumors to smear her reputation. Lin Wan'er, unable to bear the harassment, nearly suffered a mental breakdown. This morning… she attempted to slit her wrists. Fortunately, her agent discovered her in time; she's still in the hospital fighting for her life."

Qin Feng's gaze instantly turned cold.

Again, this kind of abuse of power. But this time, they had targeted someone under his protection.

Although Fengqi Entertainment was not a core industry in his vast commercial empire, since it bore his name, its people were his. Even when beating a dog, one must consider the owner—how much more so when attacking one of his own and driving them to suicide?

"Moreover," Su Wenqian's voice grew colder, "we've uncovered that the Xiao Family appears closely tied to a powerful figure within the same department as the previous Long Xiansheng. This incident may be the Xiao Family exploiting the situation—or… a test directed at you."

A test?

A flash of icy light passed through Qin Feng's eyes.

Using such despicable means to force an innocent girl to the brink of death—to test his limits and reactions?

Good.

It seems I was too courteous to Long Xiansheng last time, giving some the illusion they could manipulate him.

He picked up the Tablet Computer and swiftly scanned the detailed information on the Xiao Family. A colossal, centuries-old power, deeply rooted in the Capital, convinced of its unshakable foundation.

In the past, he might have employed conventional methods: commercial pressure, gathering dirt.

But now…

His gaze fell upon the system interface, where the Malicious Curse function—still locked—had, since his system level upgrade, become sharply defined, even faintly glowing with ominous red light.

【Malicious Curse】 (Locked): Can impose a one-time curse effect on a designated target, with random type (e. g., relentless misfortune, betrayal by all, career collapse). Effect and duration depend on the Host's cost and target's strength. Note: How to repay kindness? System replies: With a curse.

This function had remained stuck at 99% unlock progress since his system reached Level 4, as if lacking a crucial trigger—or a sufficiently weighty "sacrifice."

The Xiao Family, arrogant and powerful, deeply entrenched and widely connected, had deliberately walked into his crosshairs…

Wasn't this the perfect "unlock material" and "deterrent target"?

A cold, cruel smile appeared on Qin Feng's face.

He set down the Tablet Computer and instructed Su Wenqian: "Deploy all resources to preserve Lin Wan'er's life. Give her the best possible treatment and comfort. Inform the head of Fengqi Entertainment: from today, Lin Wan'er is the company's highest-priority protected artist. All resources shall be directed toward her."

"Yes, Sir!" Su Wenqian immediately replied.

"Also," Qin Feng stood, walked to the window, and gazed at the bustling city outside. His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling, lethal intent: "Send a message to the Xiao Family."

"Tell them it's Qin Feng speaking: immediately make Xiao Chen come to the hospital entrance, kneel before Lin Wan'er, and beg for her forgiveness until she forgives him. Then, the Xiao Family shall sever one arm—hand over all personnel involved in this incident and their mineral line in South America as compensation."

"I give them… twenty-four hours."

Su Wenqian drew in a sharp breath. Make the Xiao Family's legitimate heir kneel and apologize? Sever one arm? Surrender a mineral line worth hundreds of billions? These demands were naked humiliation and a declaration of war! The Xiao Family would never accept!

"Sir, this… the Xiao Family probably…"

"They can refuse," Qin Feng cut her off, turning to face her, his eyes devoid of any emotion—only a cold, depthless void. "Then don't blame me… for using my own way to explain reason."

Su Wenqian, gazing at Qin Feng's soul-freezing gaze, dared not speak further. She bowed deeply and withdrew: "I'll act immediately."

The message reached the Xiao Family quickly.

Predictably, it ignited furious outrage.

The Xiao Family patriarch smashed his most treasured purple clay teapot on the spot, cursing Qin Feng as a "brash youth who knows nothing of heaven's height or earth's depth." Xiao Chen roared that he would make Qin Feng "die without a grave." The entire Xiao Family, united in fury, saw this as a grave provocation—and demanded the harshest retaliation.

They mobilized every connection and force, launching a coordinated assault against the Wind Rising System in business and public opinion, even pressuring higher authorities through back channels to punish Qin Feng as an "unstable element."

The twenty-four-hour deadline passed swiftly amid the Xiao Family's rage and all-out counterattack.

Not only did they refuse any of Qin Feng's demands—they escalated. Using shadowy methods, they attacked several mid-level managers of the Wind Rising System outside the Capital, leaving one critically injured.

Upon receiving the news, Qin Feng sat in his study, his face showing no surprise.

He had expected this outcome.

Good.

Now, when he acted, he would feel no psychological burden.

He summoned the system interface, his gaze locking onto the ominous red-glowing 【Malicious Curse】 icon.

"System, lock target: Xiao Family, entire bloodline members, Capital, Dragon Country."

【Target locked. Detected target as a large bloodline clan, with intertwined destiny and deep roots. Performing a group curse requires immense energy and cost.】

【Estimated cost: 50% of Host's current available funds (~$800 billion USD), and one use of Shenji Blessing.】

【Confirm execution?】

Eight hundred billion dollars! One Shenji Blessing!

Even with preparation, Qin Feng was startled by the staggering cost—it would drain half his liquid assets.

But as he recalled the Xiao Family's arrogant faces, the girl lying in the hospital, nearly dead, and the hidden tests and schemes behind it…

Qin Feng's eyes turned utterly cold and resolute.

Money—lost, can be earned again.

Blessing—on cooldown, can be waited for.

But this anger must be vented. This authority must be established.

He would let everyone know the consequences of offending him, Qin Feng!

"Confirm execution!"

【Command received! Beginning to link causal threads... extracting energy... constructing curse meme...】

【Consuming Host funds 800,000,000,000 USD! Consuming Shenji Blessing uses x1!】

【Malicious Curse — activated!】

【Target: All Bloodline members of the Xiao Family!】

【Curse effect generating... Based on target group characteristics and Host's price paid, the curse effect is: — 'Bloodline Withering'!】

Boom!

A terrifying force, formless and intangible yet seemingly imbued with the most malicious, most Decaying rules in the world, used the system as its medium, ignored the barriers of space and time, instantly traversed a thousand miles, and like the shadow of fate, shrouded the entire Xiao Family and every member who carried the Xiao Family Bloodline!

At the same time, the system prompt sounded once again:

【Ding! Detected that the Host has deployed high-level rule-based power for the first time, successfully imposing a devastating curse on a large-scale target, meeting the ultimate unlock condition for the 'Malicious Curse' function!】

【Malicious Curse function fully unlocked!】

The instant the curse was unleashed, at the Xiao Family ancestral home far away in the Capital.

The Xiao Family patriarch, who was in his study orchestrating strategy and preparing to deliver a "fatal blow" to Qin Feng, suddenly felt a jolt of heart palpitations, and the wolf-hair brush in his hand snapped with a "crack"! Immediately after, he received an urgent call — his most outstanding grandson, who was in charge of important overseas business, had been struck by an "accidentally" falling steel plate while inspecting a construction site, and died on the spot!

Almost at the same time, tragic news came in rapid succession for the core members of the Xiao Family distributed across the nation and even the globe!

Some were suddenly struck by a rare, vicious illness, their lives hanging by a thread;

Some suffered bizarre car accidents, their cars destroyed and themselves killed;

Some had critical projects under their charge suddenly suffer major accidents, their futures utterly ruined;

Some were exposed with earth-shattering scandals, their reputations shattered;

Worse still, several Xiao Family toddlers inexplicably began running high fevers that would not break, their vitality rapidly draining away...

As if an invisible, malicious hand had, at the same moment, snuffed out all hope and foundation of the Xiao Family! Not merely death, but Decay, ruin, the betrayal of kin! The entire vast Xiao Family was collapsing and withering from within at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The Xiao Family patriarch, watching the unceasing stream of tragic news and hearing the desperate wails of his clansmen, slumped into his grandmaster chair, his face ashen as death, as if he had aged twenty years in an instant. Only at this moment did he understand exactly what kind of terrifying existence they had provoked!

That was simply not a force they could contend with! It was... a strike at the level of rules themselves!

"Curse... it's a curse... he cursed our entire Xiao Family!!" The patriarch let out a desperate, shrill howl, then spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and fainted dead away.

Inside Yunding Mansion.

Qin Feng watched as the 【Malicious Curse】 icon in the system lit up completely, feeling the disappearance of that enormous sum of funds and the 【Shenji Blessing】 entering its long cooldown, his complexion slightly pale, but his gaze exceptionally bright.

He walked to the wine cabinet and poured himself another glass.

Looking at the still-bustling night scene outside the window, he gently swirled the wine glass.

"Xiao Family..."

"This, is my way."

He drained the wine in his glass in one gulp.

From this day forth, the powerful and noble of the world should know that there exists a being who stands above the rules.

Its name — Qin Feng.