16: Chapter 16 Debt Restructuring and Reverse Takeovers

The moonlight was pale, shining on Mr. Mo's pitch-black Tang suit and Lin Yuan's paper-pale face. Behind him, at the entrance of the factory, that aggregate known as the "Mother of Rust" was emitting a low roar like grinding metal, its massive silhouette writhing in the shadows, cold and violent killing intent crashing against Lin Yuan's spine like waves.

Wolves in front, tigers behind; a desperate situation within a desperate situation.

Sweat mixed with blood dripped from Lin Yuan's temples, his heart pounding in his chest, nearly shattering his ribs. Yet his brain, under extreme fear and pressure, entered a strangely cold state—the same state he had used in his past life in the financial markets when facing sudden crashes and needing to make life-or-death decisions in an instant.

Analyze, calculate, search for that one possible, fleeting flaw.

Mr. Mo didn't seem to be in a hurry to act; he leisurely appreciated Lin Yuan's disheveled state, his thin fingers slowly rubbing that black ring. "God of Ruins... Optimization... Those are two interesting words. One represents ruins and returning to zero, the other represents order and improvement. A contradictory combination. Kid, the path you're taking is even more interesting than I thought. Give me the item, then open up your divine core and let me see the underlying code of your 'contradiction.' I might consider... hmmm, taking you in as a decent apostle. That's better than being drained dry by 'Lingxiao Capital,' or being ground into slag by that stupid thing behind you."

Apostle? Open up his divine core? How was that any different from completely handing over ownership and becoming a puppet? Lin Yuan sneered inwardly, but his face revealed nothing. He was rapidly thinking through every word and action of Mr. Mo.

First, Mr. Mo didn't immediately attack with the "Mother of Rust." Why? Was he wary of the aggregate's indiscriminate destruction? Or did he really have a strong research interest in his "Optimization" divine profession? Or... could he not fully control that aggregate, and perhaps even needed the "Infant Spirit Resentment" component Lin Yuan had just stripped away?

Second, Mr. Mo mentioned "Lingxiao Capital." He knew about his debts, and his tone carried disdain and some kind of... sense of competition? They weren't on the same side, and might even be enemies.

Third, Mr. Mo wanted the underlying code of "Optimization." This meant he thought the concept of "Optimization" had value, and might even be useful to him.

In a flash, the prototype of a crazy plan struck Lin Yuan's mind like a bolt of lightning in the dark.

He stopped trying to run, instead slowly straightening his back, which had been slightly hunched from exhaustion and fear. He lifted the talisman array scroll he was tightly clutching, which contained the phantom of the infant spirit, a little higher.

"Mr. Mo," his voice was hoarse but unexpectedly steady, even carrying a hint of the tone he had used when negotiating with Boss Qian at the black market, "You want this? And the 'Optimization' protocol of my divine core?"

He deliberately used the word "protocol" rather than "ability" or "origin"; it was a term from the financial field.

The gaze behind Mr. Mo's sunglasses seemed to sharpen for a moment: "Protocol? An interesting description. Go on."

"But I think we might be able to talk about a bigger deal." Lin Yuan said, while keeping a wary eye on the "Mother of Rust" gradually approaching from behind. The monster seemed quite wary of Mr. Mo as well, slowing its speed, but the pressure it exerted only increased.

"Oh? A 'God of Loans' who can barely save himself, what qualifications do you have to talk business with me?" Mr. Mo scoffed, but didn't interrupt.

"By virtue of this in my hand," Lin Yuan shook the scroll, "This is a key component of your 'work' (he deliberately emphasized this word). Without it, the energy structure of that big guy behind you is incomplete, unstable, and might even... backfire on its master? I guess you didn't design this 'Composite Spirit Body Containment Field' just to accumulate wealth for Chairman Liu (or rather, to scam him), right? Raising something like this takes time and effort. You need it to reach a certain 'standard,' or complete a certain 'ritual.' Is this infant spirit resentment a 'buffer' used to reconcile the 'metal-iron fierce energy' and 'work-related injury resentment' to prevent them from devouring each other too early and causing the structure to collapse? Or is it some kind of 'emotional catalyst'?"

Lin Yuan was purely guessing based on the principles of "risk hedging" and "structured products" in financial models, but seeing Mr. Mo's fingers pause slightly as he rubbed the ring, he knew he had guessed the right direction!

"Continue." Mr. Mo's voice held no emotion, but the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

"Now, this 'buffer' is in my hands." Lin Yuan felt his heart about to jump out of his throat, but his tone became increasingly calm, "You can certainly kill me and take it. But let alone whether you can instantly subdue me without letting me destroy it (he gestured to inject Power of Faith into the scroll), even if you succeed, that big guy behind is already completely out of control. If you reinstall the 'component' now, is it still in time to make it stabilize and obey orders? Will it attack you too?"

He paused and threw out the core proposal: "How about we try a different way. You abandon this 'failed work' that is already half out of control. And I, using partial technical authorization from my 'Optimization' protocol, plus the possibility of future cooperation, will 'acquire' your... um, 'non-performing assets' on this project? Including this infant spirit component, and the disposal rights for this entire park."

A reverse takeover! Using ethereal "technical authorization" and "future cooperation" to acquire an "asset" that an evil cultivator had painstakingly cultivated!

The proposal was so crazy it was almost absurd. But Lin Yuan was betting on two things: First, Mr. Mo was a "researcher" or "investor," not just a killer, and he had a strong interest in the unknown concept of "Optimization"; Second, the "Mother of Rust" was approaching a state of being out of control and had become less valuable, perhaps even a burden, to Mr. Mo, so he needed to stop the losses.

Mr. Mo was silent. Only the faint sound of the ring rubbing and the suppressed low roar of the aggregate behind him echoed in the night.

A few seconds, as long as a century.

Finally, Mr. Mo let out a low laugh of indeterminate meaning: "Interesting... Truly interesting. A 'God of Loans' who can barely save himself wants to use a bad check to acquire my 'project'? Kid, your guts are worth more than your divine core."

It was working! He hadn't directly refused!

"This is not a bad check." Lin Yuan followed up immediately, knowing he had to provide something more substantial, "The core of the 'Optimization' protocol lies in the quantitative understanding and reconstruction of 'chaos' and 'order.' I can provide a preliminary algorithmic model for 'composite energy structure stability analysis'—based on my observation and analysis of your 'work.' This can help you optimize your next 'work' and reduce the failure rate. Furthermore..."

He glanced at the "Mother of Rust" getting closer behind him and sped up his speech: "As part of the transaction, I can help you 'handle' this trouble. Not destroy it, but 'reorganize' it. Let it change from your 'liability' to my... um, 'asset held for disposal.' You get back the technical ideas you want and priority cooperation rights in the future, and get rid of a hot potato, while I get the opportunity to dispose of this 'asset package.' A win-win."

"Win-win?" Mr. Mo seemed amused by the word, "You win twice? You get my technical ideas, and also get the disposal rights? Kid, your abacus is calculated too finely."

"You win by stopping losses in time and gaining a new technical direction with potential. I win by gaining an 'opportunity' that might be converted into resources, and..." Lin Yuan took a deep breath, "The qualification to survive. My life is also one of the bargaining chips in this transaction, isn't it?"

He was gambling, betting that Mr. Mo felt his "Optimization" ideas and the uncertainty of the future were more valuable than a failed product about to lose control and the life of an insignificant "God of Loans."

Mr. Mo was silent again, seemingly evaluating. He tilted his head slightly, as if listening to something, or sensing the state of the "Mother of Rust."

The aggregate was already less than twenty meters away from Lin Yuan! The giant arm made of rusted metal was raised high, mixed with painful industrial noise, and looked like it was about to smash down!

Just at this critical moment!

Mr. Mo moved!

His thin fingers pointed lightly into the air in the direction of the "Mother of Rust."

No light, no sound.

But that giant arm about to smash down, along with the entire massive silhouette of the aggregate, suddenly froze! As if bound by invisible shackles, it let out an even more angry but powerless roar, its huge body trembling violently, but it couldn't move forward an inch!

Lin Yuan's pupils shrank! Was this Mr. Mo's power? Silent and soundless, yet able to easily imprison such a terrifying existence? Then why didn't he make a move earlier? Was he testing him? Or did this imprisonment require a price and couldn't last?

"Your proposal is somewhat interesting." Mr. Mo withdrew his finger, his voice still flat, "I can accept 'technical authorization' and priority cooperation rights in exchange. But this failed product cannot be completely given to you. Its 'metal-iron fierce core' is still useful to me. The other parts... including that infant spirit component and the resentment of this land, can be handled by you. In addition, I want the 'original contract copy' of the 'Optimization' concept in your divine core—not the whole thing, just the initial definition and framework. Don't worry, this won't drain you, it's just like taking a picture of the business plan written for you."

The terms had changed! He wanted the "metal-iron fierce core" (the most valuable part), and also the original definition of "Optimization"! But he gave Lin Yuan the authority to handle the other parts and this land, which was exactly what Lin Yuan needed most right now—to complete Chairman Liu's commission and obtain Faith Points!

Moreover, the term "original contract copy"... Lin Yuan's heart stirred.

Could the ability of the Godhead really be similar to some kind of "rule contract"? Could it be copied and traded?

He had no time to ponder.

"Fine! But you must guarantee to completely lift your control over this aggregate and assist me in temporarily suppressing it, so that I can safely perform the 'Optimization' operation! Also, I need you to provide the original burial information and some control runes regarding this 'Metal Fiend Core,' so that I can safely separate it!" Lin Yuan took the opportunity to propose his operational requirements.

"Heh, quite a few demands." Mr. Mo did not seem surprised. "I can give you a portion of the control runes. Suppressing it... I can only maintain that for another thirty breaths. Within thirty breaths, if you cannot complete the initial separation and stabilization, just wait to be shattered by the fiendish energy along with it. Now, hand over the 'Optimization' original contract!"

He extended his hand, the black ring aimed at Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth, focused his mind, and communicated with the [God of Ruins] Godhead deep in his soul.

He carefully peeled away the initial, core definitions and rule intentions (not all of them, just the framework) regarding the divine office of the "God of Involution Termination and Blessing Optimization," transforming it into a faint yet clearly structured pale golden ball of light, forcing it out from between his brows, and letting it float toward Mr. Mo.

A black light flashed on Mr. Mo's ring, sucking the ball of light in.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them immediately, a hint of satisfaction seeming to flash beneath his sunglasses.

"The foundation is passable, the framework is unique. The deal is struck." He flicked his finger, and a point of black light shot into Lin Yuan's brow, containing a complex piece of rune information and several key coordinates.

"This is a portion of the core runes to control the 'Mother of Rust' and the precise location of the 'Metal Fiend Core.' Now, you have thirty breaths."

As soon as his voice fell, Lin Yuan felt the terrifying pressure behind him become "active" again; Mr. Mo's restraint was rapidly fading!

The "Mother of Rust" let out a roar of relief and swung its giant arm again!

Thirty breaths! Less than a minute!

A race against time!

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes, and he cast all distracting thoughts to the back of his mind.

In one hand, he raised the infant spirit array scroll, crazily injecting all his remaining Power of Faith (about 4 points) into the "soul soothing guide" incense burner and the "Optimization" guidance channel he had constructed himself, with the goal not of pacification, but of command and connection!

"In the name of 'Optimization,' with 'Peace' as the guide, obey my command, and temporarily manifest order!"

He combined the partial control runes he had just obtained from Mr. Mo with his own "Optimization" order intent, and through the "soul soothing guide" and the Power of Faith channel, forcibly drove them into the infant spirit phantom!

The white phantom trembled violently, emitting a painful and confused wail, but the runes and order intent quickly permeated it, temporarily suppressing its pure resentment and endowing it with a simple, temporary "command": attract, soothe, and connect with similar resentments (work-related injury resentments)!

At the same time, Lin Yuan, based on the coordinates and rune information given by Mr. Mo, cast his last bit of perception toward a certain place inside the "Mother of Rust's" body—there, a fist-sized, rusted, sword-shaped crystal, constantly emitting a dark red baleful light, was slowly pulsating.

That was the "Metal Fiend Core"!

He did not attempt to touch or seal it (that would immediately trigger the most violent counterattack), but instead used the runes given by Mr. Mo to quickly construct a simple "energy deflection field" around the Fiend Core, using his mental energy and the last lingering trace of faith!

The purpose of this field was: during the coming energy storm, to slightly deflect the direction of the Fiend Core's energy eruption, and to temporarily weaken its attraction and control over the surrounding work-related injury resentments!

"Three! Two! One!" Mr. Mo's cold countdown rang out in his spiritual sense.

The restraint completely disappeared!

The "Mother of Rust" broke free completely, all its fury and power erupting with a roar!

It no longer distinguished targets; dark red fiendish energy and grayish-black resentment erupted like a volcano, pouring down toward the nearest living thing—Lin Yuan—and the infant spirit array in his hands that emitted an aura it found both disgusting and familiar!

Now!

Lin Yuan violently threw the array and incense burner in his hand toward the side! That was an open area of the industrial park, far from the buildings.

The temporarily "programmed" infant spirit phantom, under the enhancement of the "soul soothing guide," radiated a strong wave of "peace" and "belonging" aimed at similar resentments!

It was like dropping a single drop of water into a boiling wok of oil.

The violent torrent of grayish-black work-related injury resentment suddenly stalled!

A portion of the resentment, instinctively attracted by the "peaceful" wave, broke free from the entanglement of the dark red fiendish energy and, like tired birds returning to their nests, flocked toward the pale golden light shield formed by the infant spirit array!

Meanwhile, the "energy deflection field" constructed by Lin Yuan took effect!

The column of dark red fiendish energy erupted by the "Metal Fiend Core" slightly deviated from its original trajectory toward Lin Yuan, and a fissure appeared in its control over the remaining work-related injury resentments!

More work-related injury resentments broke away and surged toward the infant spirit array!

The massive body of the "Mother of Rust" began to shake and disintegrate unstably! The energy composing its body was being "diverted"! The dark red fiendish energy and the grayish-black resentment began to tear apart!

Opportunity!

Using his last bit of strength, Lin Yuan pulled out the packet of "revealing powder" from his pocket and threw it with all his might toward the "fissure" where the Fiend Core and the resentment were separating!

The grayish-white powder filled the air, temporarily making that energy fissure even more clearly visible!

"Now, Mr. Mo!" Lin Yuan roared hoarsely!

He didn't need Mr. Mo to attack; he only needed him to fulfill his promise of "assisting with suppression"—at the critical moment, briefly suppress the "Metal Fiend Core" for an instant, allowing him to complete the final "separation surgery"!

Behind his sunglasses, the corners of Mr. Mo's mouth seemed to curl into a faint, appreciative arc.

He raised his hand again and gently clenched it toward the dark red Fiend Core.

"Clang—!" A crisp sound, as if metal and jade were shattering!

The surging, erupting dark red fiendish energy suddenly solidified for a brief instant!

This is the moment!

Lin Yuan had a flash of inspiration, transforming the [trace of mark of conquest] that had been silent in his soul, along with the entire yearning for "Order" from his "Optimization" divine office, into a weak but incredibly firm blade of intent, and along the fissure marked by the "revealing powder," fiercely "stabbed" into the node where the Fiend Core and the resentment were about to completely separate!

"With this mark, I declare this 'chaos' has been straightened out! With this will, I define this 'order' as belonging to me!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion.

At that moment, the massive body of the "Mother of Rust" collapsed with a roar, like a sandcastle with its key framework pulled out!

The dark red fiendish energy core (Metal Fiend Core) emitted an unwilling hum, turned into a streak of light, and was swept up by Mr. Mo's sleeve and into his hand.

As for the vast majority of the grayish-black work-related injury resentments, as well as the temporarily "programmed" infant spirit phantom, they were like tired birds returning to the forest, all absorbed into the continuously expanding pale golden "soul soothing guide array" light shield on the ground.

The light shield flickered violently, finally stabilizing to form a Composite Spirit Body Containment Field several meters in diameter, continuously emitting a faint aura of peace.

In the original spot, only some dissipated, harmless negative energy dust remained, slowly fading into the night wind.

Lin Yuan knelt on one knee, drained of strength, gasping for air, sweat pouring down like rain, his vision blacking out in waves.

His Power of Faith was completely exhausted, and a tearing pain came from his soul.

But he had succeeded!

Under Mr. Mo's predatory gaze and the death threat of the "Mother of Rust," he had completed an extremely thrilling "debt restructuring" and "reverse acquisition"!

Mr. Mo toyed with the dark red crystal in his hand, which had shrunk several times but still emitted a baleful light, and walked up to Lin Yuan.

"Not bad 'surgery,' kid. Although rough, the approach is ingenious. 'Optimization'... I think I roughly understand its value."

He looked down at the exhausted Lin Yuan. "The contract is complete. The remains of this failure and the trouble in this area are yours. I hope you can 'optimize' some value out of them. We... will meet again."

After speaking, his figure seemed to melt into the night, slowly fading, and finally disappearing without a trace.

Only the subtle sound of the black ring rubbing seemed to linger for an instant.

Lin Yuan slumped on the ground, watching the energy field gradually calm down before him, and the distant industrial park buildings that were still gloomy but seemed much "lighter."

Deep in the night sky, a hint of fish-belly white faintly appeared in the east.

The sky was about to brighten.

And on his system interface, under the blood-red divine breath countdown, a new line of shimmering text quietly appeared:

[Special Mission Completed: Composite Malignant Energy Field Restructuring (Preliminary)]

[Obtained: Ownership of Composite Spirit Body Containment Field (Growable/Researchable)]

[Obtained: Weak Authority of Order (Temporary) — Minor increase in deterrence against 'chaotic' energy entities]

[Obtained: Mr. Mo's Attention (Neutral leaning toward curious)]

[Power of Faith points settling (Commission completion degree evaluating)...]

The darkest moment before dawn had passed.

But Lin Yuan knew that bigger challenges, more "creditors" and "investors," might be waiting for him at the next dawn.

He struggled to stand up and looked toward the glimmer of light on the horizon.

At least, he had won this precious round, and... 25 days, 09 hours, and 17 minutes of breathing room.

As well as a "new asset" full of danger and opportunity.