Chapter 189: There Is No More Xiao Family in Modu

The "New Era" Science Council's "Explorer Invitation" was like a stone cast into the calm surface of the international academic world, stirring ripples far more complex than those in the business sector.

A future city-state, privately built, claiming scientific autonomy, and offering unlimited research resources? To many researchers suffering from funding shortages, administrative constraints, and academic infighting, this was undeniably a lethal attraction. Especially for forward-thinking young scientists rejected by the mainstream, "New Era" became the promised land for realizing their academic ideals.

Undercurrents began to surge within major top-tier research institutions and universities. Inquiries, probes, and even secret overtures flowed through various channels toward the "Wind Rising System."

Qin Feng welcomed this development, entrusting all specific negotiations entirely to Sun Zhe and the newly formed Secretariat of the Science Council, while he himself continued focusing on preparations for exploring the "Civilization Tombstone" and guiding the initial phase of the "Rule Analysis" team.

However, as the "Abyss Walker" submersible neared its final debugging phase and the exploration team prepared to depart, a message from Modu interrupted Qin Feng's rhythm.

The message was delivered in person by lawyer Chen Yongming, his face carrying a complex expression, mingling sighs with awe.

"Mr. Qin, the Xiao Family in Modu... is finished." Chen Yongming spoke bluntly, his tone heavy.

"The Xiao Family?" Qin Feng slightly furrowed his brow, surprised by this surname he had nearly forgotten. Since using the 【Malicious Curse】 to trigger its 【Bloodline Withering】, he had paid no further attention to the family's aftermath.

"Yes," Chen Yongming nodded, explaining in detail, "Since that incident last time, the Xiao Family collapsed rapidly. Core members suffered successive misfortunes, their industries crumbled, and when the tree fell, the monkeys scattered. The remaining collateral branches fought bitterly over the dwindling assets, displaying every kind of disgrace. Their companies, properties, equity... nearly all valuable assets were recently forcibly auctioned by court order to settle massive debts."

He paused, glanced at Qin Feng's expressionless face, and continued, "And yesterday, the last iconic ancestral mansion of the Xiao Family on the Bund was successfully sold. The buyer... was a subsidiary under 'Wind Rises Investment.'"

Qin Feng's eyebrows twitched slightly. This was something he had not anticipated. Sun Zhe's team, following conventional business logic, had inadvertently acquired the Xiao Family's final symbol.

"So," Chen Yongming concluded, his tone carrying an air of proclamation, "legally and factually, there is no longer a Xiao Family in Modu."

There is no longer a Xiao Family in Modu.

These light words concealed the brutal reality of a powerful family, entrenched in Modu for decades and once flourishing, collapsing from its peak into dust within a short time, vanishing completely.

The study fell into silence.

Su Wenqian stood beside him, unconsciously holding her breath. Though she despised the Xiao Family's actions, hearing such a once-mighty clan end so utterly, she could not help feeling a chilling sense of kinship in sorrow.

Chen Yongming felt a deep chill within. He had witnessed firsthand how Qin Feng, with effortless ease, crushed such a vast family into ash. This power had surpassed his understanding of "wealth" and "influence."

Only Qin Feng remained utterly expressionless.

He lifted the teacup on the desk, sipped slowly, as if Chen Yongming's report were merely an insignificant social news item.

He felt no surprise at the Xiao Family's fate, nor any sense of vengeful satisfaction.

From the moment he unleashed the 【Malicious Curse】, the family's destiny was sealed. Their complete annihilation was merely the inevitable result of the curse's lingering effects.

A mosquito that buzzed and tried to bite him was swatted dead—did one mourn it?

He even thought Sun Zhe's people were unnecessary in acquiring the ancestral mansion. That place, saturated with decay and 【Decay】, held no value for him.

"Understood," Qin Feng set down the teacup, his tone flat. "Tear down the mansion and rebuild it, or turn it into public green space. The Xiao Family's affairs end here. Never mention them again."

"Yes, Mr. Qin," Chen Yongming bowed deeply, his last lingering unease about delivering this news dissolving. In Qin Feng's eyes, the Xiao Family was not even worth a trace.

"Any other matters?" Qin Feng asked, clearly unwilling to waste any more time on the Xiao Family.

"Uh... none," Chen Yongming quickly shook his head.

"Hmm, go attend to your duties," Qin Feng waved his hand.

Chen Yongming bowed again and withdrew from the study.

Su Wenqian stepped forward, refilling Qin Feng's teacup with hot tea, and asked softly, "Master, the Xiao Family... they got what they deserved, didn't they?"

Qin Feng glanced at her, speaking calmly, "There is no such thing as absolute 'deserved punishment' in this world. They simply chose to oppose me—and fortunately, I possess the power to decide their fate."

His words carried a detachment beyond earthly morality, almost divine in coldness.

Su Wenqian nodded, half-understanding.

Qin Feng fell silent again, his gaze returning to the final inspection report of the "Abyss Walker" submersible on the desk.

The fall of the Xiao Family meant nothing to him—not even an interlude.

It was merely a trivial footnote beneath his displayed power, a pebble crushed underfoot on his path to the summit.

His eyes had long since passed beyond these worldly grudges and entanglements, fixed instead on the profound seabed, on the web of rules binding the world, on the boundless expanse of stars and oceans.

There lay his true battlefield and his true home.

No more Xiao Family in Modu?

Good.

It means a noisy distraction has been cleared away, allowing him to focus more intently on listening to the true echoes coming from the stars and the abyss.