171: Meeting Feng Rui

The commotion, in fact, didn't last too long.

When those three glaring nine-star missions, along with the terrifying two hundred and eighty-eight stars, were displayed on the light screen, the clamor of the entire examination hall strangely quieted down.

Not because of acceptance, but because of numbness.

Two hundred and eighty-eight stars.

This number had completely exceeded the cognitive boundaries of everyone present, to the point where even mockery seemed so pale and powerless.

You cannot mock someone who voluntarily jumps into the sun.

You would only think he is crazy.

"I think I've figured it out now."

In the crowd, a lean student stroked his chin and suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a self-important insight.

"This is what they call throwing caution to the wind, this is exactly throwing caution to the wind."

This theory spread like a virus through the crowd.

"That makes sense! Anyway, they're all going to fail. One scored zero, one handed in a blank paper, is there a difference?"

"So, this Lin Yu kid is actually quite smart? He knows how to grab attention."

"Smart my ass, this is called being at the end of his rope. But what's up with his sister and that big guy? Going crazy with him?"

"What else could it be? They got dragged into it. It's a pity, two mythical-level talents, originally with boundless futures, insisted on playing with a madman."

"Not necessarily, no matter what, they are much more impressive than you."

"Didn't you see the news? They all said Lin Yu's whole family has a history of mental illness!"

"Yes... yes, indeed."

The discussions were not loud, but clear enough.

The mocking tone faded, replaced by a condescending pity and analysis.

They thought they had seen through Lin Yu's "cleverness" and the logic behind this farce.

This allowed them to regain their intellectual superiority.

As for the "Wind Travel New Star" team, which chose a five-person team to challenge the nine-star mission, they also became the focus of discussion at this moment.

"The team signed by Fengxing Technology really has guts! This is a true challenge to the limit!"

"That's right, a full five-person team, with reasonable professional coordination, this is the correct way to tackle a nine-star mission!"

The young men and women being praised by everyone showed no signs of complacency.

They just stared intently at the three figures who had already stepped off the stage and were preparing to leave.

They had made a decision that risked their professional careers, but the other party, from beginning to end, hadn't even glanced their way.

That feeling of being completely ignored was more painful than any direct humiliation.

Lin Yu indeed didn't look at them.

Nor was he interested in looking.

The so-called nine-star mission, for Zhao Tianyang and Lin Yao, might not even count as a decent training experience.

The reason he made this choice was purely because he needed a sufficiently high platform.

A platform that would allow his name to return to everyone's sight in an undeniable way.

A stepping stone that would allow him to access deeper knowledge and resources.

Knowledge.

This was what he craved most right now.

After witnessing the power of the Abyss Domain visitors and personally creating the Growth card, Lin Yu realized more than ever that simple power multiplication has its limits.

But knowledge does not.

He might not have even tapped one percent of the potential of the Card Maker profession.

He needed more formulas, more theories, more authority.

And all of this required a sufficiently high starting point.

A perfect score on the College Entrance Examination should be enough.

After all, he was just a deferred examinee, theoretically a repeat student.

"Let's go."

Lin Yu spoke calmly, taking the lead and walking out of the examination hall.

Lin Yao immediately followed.

The little girl was still mentally calculating how to handle this nine-star mission.

Zhao Tianyang hesitated for a moment, then followed them out.

The noisy crowd instinctively parted, forming a path for them.

No one mocked them anymore.

They merely watched them leave with complex gazes, like looking at monsters or dead men.

Stepping out of the examination hall's main entrance, the dazzling sunlight made Lin Yu squint slightly.

At the entrance, rows of luxury cars were parked, and many men and women in suits were waiting for the contracted geniuses from their companies.

Every second counted; from now until university graduation, they would have no time of their own.

In the most prominent position, a middle-aged man in a bespoke suit with immaculately combed hair leaned against a brand-new "Wind Traveler" vehicle.

Feng Rui.

The Vice President of Fengxing Technology.

He seemed to be waiting for someone, a hint of undisguised pride and ease on his face.

When he saw Lin Yu and Lin Yao walk out, the ease on his face instantly froze.

A flicker of disgust and hatred passed through his eyes.

However, that hatred was quickly suppressed.

Feng Rui's mood had indeed been very good recently.

Very good.

On one hand, the "New Star Project" twin stars signed by the company showed sufficient courage in today's College Entrance Examination choices. They were not intimidated by the madman Lin Yu and also chose the nine-star mission, earning considerable prestige for the company.

This could also be hyped up as a topic.

On the other hand, there was an even more important major event.

Some time ago, a potion with incredibly good effects and unbelievably low prices suddenly appeared in the Linzhou Black Market and quickly swept through the entire underground market.

This underground sales network, led by the Old Ghost Hall, was like a sharp knife, fiercely stabbing into the profit heartland of the three major pharmaceutical companies.

These giants felt panic for the first time.

The launch of the New Star Project was also to balance the negative impact.

Just as they were overwhelmed with problems, even more explosive news arrived.

Chen Ao, the underground emperor of the Linzhou Black Market, and the people from the Old Ghost Hall, had a falling out.

And Chen Ao was defeated.

He was defeated thoroughly; his entire force disintegrated, and he himself was nowhere to be found.

This news plunged pharmaceutical merchants like Feng Rui into deeper fear.

Even Chen Ao fell; who exactly was the boss behind this Old Ghost Hall?

Just when everyone thought a bloody market purge was about to begin, things took a turn.

That old fox Li Mo really had his ways!

He could handle Chen Ao, and with Chen Ao gone, he could also handle the boss of the Old Ghost Hall!

Li Mo conveyed a message: the boss of the Old Ghost Hall was willing to sit down and talk with representatives from the three major pharmaceutical companies.

Talk about what?

Of course, about profit distribution!

The moment Feng Rui received this news, he was completely relieved.

It turned out the other party wasn't trying to overturn the table, just wanted a seat at it.

That makes things easier.

Commercial negotiations were his forte.

The so-called mysterious boss was nothing more than a powerful but not-so-smart brute. After winning a battle, he couldn't wait to cash in on the results.

How laughable.

He simply didn't know that modern warfare no longer takes place on the streets, but at the negotiating table.