Chapter 66

The hidden currents of the financial battlefield did not reach the absolute core at the deepest part of the estate. After completing the necessary deployment commands, Qin Feng dismissed Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan, remaining alone in the command room. The massive screen returned to standby mode, its dim blue glow reflecting on his calm, expressionless face.

"System." He recited silently in his heart.

【Ding! Host, the Quan Neng System is at your service.】

As his influence expanded rapidly, the level of his enemies grew ever higher—from secular magnates to the mysterious organization "The Abyss" lurking in the world's shadows—and Qin Feng increasingly felt that, though the current system was powerful, it had already hit a bottleneck. Whether in the breadth and depth of information processing or in its ability to analyze relics like "Guan Zhou," it was beginning to show its limits.

He needed stronger assistance.

"Display current system level and upgrade conditions." Qin Feng issued the command.

【Current System Level: LV. 5 (All-Purpose Auxiliary Phase)】

【Conditions to upgrade to LV. 6 (Strategic Dominance Phase):】

【1. Energy Reserve: Requires consumption of 90% of the Host's current available funds and equivalent resources. (Detected: Host's ongoing financial operations exhibit high volatility. Recommend stabilizing before execution.)】

【2. Core Authorization: Requires complete analysis and preliminary control of one "Ancient Relic" core technology. (Recommended target: "Guan Zhou" Energy Core—Dimensional Resonance Engine.)】

【3. Host Life Level: Requires completion of a minor Life Matrix Optimization. (Current optimization progress: 78%. Forced upgrade possible, but 3.7% probability of unpredictable genetic collapse.)】

Looking at the pale blue holographic display before him, Qin Feng's gaze sharpened. The upgrade conditions were as harsh as ever.

Ninety percent of available funds and resources meant he would nearly exhaust all his visible wealth. If any misstep occurred during the upgrade, or if external enemies seized the opportunity to strike, he would face an unprecedented financial crisis. This was undeniably a high-stakes gamble.

Analyzing the "Guan Zhou" energy core was even more difficult. Gu Qingcheng's team had worked day and night, yet they had only just established a preliminary connection to "Guan Zhou"—far from cracking its core energy technology.

Life level optimization had progressed relatively smoothly, but the risk of forced upgrade remained.

"Risk assessment." Qin Feng asked calmly.

【Comprehensive Risk Assessment: High. Fund withdrawal will severely weaken the Host's ability to counter current financial attacks; "Guan Zhou" energy core analysis progress is slow; forced life optimization carries risk. Recommend delaying upgrade.】

The system's advice was rational. But Qin Feng's dictionary had no word for "delay." Risk and reward were always proportional. LV. 6's Strategic Dominance Phase, according to the system's vague description, would unlock higher-tier tech trees, cross-dimensional information retrieval, and strategic planning support for his faction's overall development—critical for confronting "The Abyss" and exploring a wider world.

He paused, mentally calculating every possibility. He had confidence he could reverse the financial battle in the short term—even turn it against the Ye Family. The key was speed.

"If I can end the main financial battle within 72 hours and successfully acquire at least one alternative Mine Vein, would that alleviate the funding pressure?" Qin Feng asked.

【Recalculating… If conditions met, funding consumption's impact on Host's overall strategy reduced to "Moderate." Combined with Phase One gains of the "Zhu Long" Plan, upgrade costs can be fully covered.】

"Can the system provide deep auxiliary assistance for the 'Guan Zhou' energy core analysis?"

【Yes. But requires substantial Host Spirit consumption and may cause unknown disturbances to "Guan Zhou," posing some risk.】

"If I absorb that piece of Star Marrow, what happens to the Life Matrix Optimization?" Qin Feng recalled the crystal he had obtained from an ancient ruin, imbued with strange Life Energy.

【Star Marrow energy can accelerate optimization. Estimated progress increase to 95%, significantly reducing genetic collapse risk. But absorption requires absolute silence and no disturbance whatsoever.】

One by one, the pieces of information collided and merged in Qin Feng's mind, forming a risky yet viable upgrade plan.

Fortune favors the bold. Especially now, with all factions stirring, one step behind could mean falling further behind. He needed a stronger trump card.

"Formulate upgrade plan." Qin Feng's eyes flashed with resolve, "Priority order: First, end the financial battle and secure at least one key resource acquisition within 72 hours; Second, I personally participate in 'Guan Zhou' energy core analysis, with system full assistance; Third, absorb Star Marrow to complete Life Matrix Optimization; Finally, inject resources to complete system upgrade!"

【Command received. Upgrade plan generating…】

【Warning: This plan is high-risk, high-intensity. Requires extreme Host willpower, physical endurance, and external environmental stability. Confirm execution?】

"Confirm."

Qin Feng did not hesitate. He walked to the command console and connected to Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan.

"Plan revised." His voice, transmitted through the comm, carried unshakable authority: "Qingcheng, you have 48 hours on the financial battlefield. I want to see the Ye Family and its allies broken. Lin Xuan, resource acquisition proceeds in parallel. Within 48 hours, I must have at least one fully controlled Mine Vein transfer agreement on my desk."

On the other end of the comm, Gu Qingcheng and Lin Xuan were stunned by the near-impossible deadline, but sensing the gravity and urgency in Qin Feng's tone, they offered no protest and immediately responded with solemn resolve:

"Yes!" / "Understood!"

Disconnecting the call, Qin Feng then contacted Xia Yunge, giving only one brief instruction: "I need to enter seclusion for three days. No one is to disturb me."

Having arranged everything, Qin Feng took a deep breath and turned his gaze toward the corridor leading to the "Guan Zhou" research Base.

Upgrading the system meant undergoing a complete transformation—for himself, and for his entire faction. He knew full well the hardships and risks involved.

But this path to the summit is like rowing upstream—stop, and you fall back.

He stepped forward into the corridor's depths, his silhouette resolute.

This battle against time—the upgrade—has officially begun.