323: Chapter 323 The Old Gods Submit! Asset Restructuring

Above the sandbox, three figures kneeling on the ground plunged the entire All Heavens and Myriad Realms into a deathly silence.

The Chaos Ancient God had one knee on the ground, and for the first time, the surging chaotic energy around him was completely retracted. His head was lowered, his expression unreadable, but his slightly trembling shoulders betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor knelt beside him, his imperial robes trailing on the ground, the beads on his Flat Heaven Crown swaying gently. His back was held straight, but the arrogance that once filled his eyes was gone.

The Mechanical God's light screen flickered incessantly, performing final calculations—calculating the cost of surrender, the possibilities of the future, and the optimal solution among countless choices.

Lin Chen hovered before them, looking down at these three old fossils who had lived for over three million years.

The entire venue held its breath.

Countless eyes stared at this scene through the live broadcast, and countless hearts pounded wildly in chests.

Three seconds later, Lin Chen smiled.

That smile was not one of mockery or triumph, but rather... a smile of satisfaction.

“Rise.”

The Chaos Ancient God looked up, his blood-red eyes filled with confusion.

“You... aren't making us stay on our knees?”

Lin Chen shook his head.

“What's the point of kneeling? I'm not your monarch.”

He raised his hand, and a gentle force lifted the three of them up.

“The sandbox simulation is won, and you've admitted defeat. That's enough. For the road ahead, we'll talk while standing.”

The Chaos Ancient God stood up and remained silent for a long time.

Then he spoke, his voice low as if coming from an abyss:

“Lin Chen, speak. What do you want us to do?”

Lin Chen looked at him.

“What to do? You can do many things.”

He opened the system and projected a document.

The title of the document was:

「Old Gods Asset Restructuring Plan」

The crowd broke into an uproar once again.

Asset restructuring? Not enslavement, not imprisonment, not erasure?

The reporters recorded frantically, the representatives whispered to one another, and the billions of beings watching the live broadcast widened their eyes.

Lin Chen began the introduction:

“First item: Chaos Ancient God.”

The Chaos Ancient God looked at him.

“You've lived for over three million years. What are you best at?”

The Chaos Ancient God was stunned for a moment.

“Chaos Laws? Combat?”

Lin Chen shook his head.

“No. What you're best at is creating spectacles.”

The Chaos Ancient God frowned.

Lin Chen continued: “That chaotic energy of yours can evolve all things and create visions. What is such a thing best suited for?”

The Chaos Ancient God was at a loss.

Lin Chen smiled.

“It's best suited for being a Character Actor.”

“A... Character Actor?” The Chaos Ancient God's voice cracked.

“Yes.” Lin Chen nodded. “I plan to develop an ‘Ancient God Cultural Experience Park.’ We’ll turn your life stories, battle scenes, and civilization ruins into immersive tourism projects. Tourists can personally experience the glory of the first epoch, feel the pressure of chaotic energy, watch the wars of the Ancient Immortal Emperor, and experience the data world of the Mechanical God.”

“And you—Chaos Ancient God—will be the Chief Character Actor of the Experience Park. You'll be responsible for demonstrating Chaos Laws, performing classic battle scenes, and occasionally guest-starring as a villain so tourists can experience the feeling of being hunted by an Ancient God.”

Chaos Ancient God: “...”

Ancient Immortal Emperor: “...”

Mechanical God: “...”

The entire venue erupted in thunderous laughter.

The representatives who were so nervous they hadn't dared to breathe were now doubled over with laughter.

The Chaos Ancient God's face turned green—if he had a face, that is.

“Lin Chen! You want me to be an actor?!”

Lin Chen looked at him with a serious expression.

“What, you think being an actor is beneath you?”

The Chaos Ancient God was speechless.

Lin Chen continued: “Do you know how much money the Cultural Experience Park can make in a year? Preliminary estimates for ticket sales, merchandise, and deep-experience projects put the annual revenue at at least 500 trillion. As the Chief Character Actor, your annual salary will be 50 trillion, plus a share of the box office.”

“Fifty trillion!” The Chaos Ancient God's voice went shrill.

“Yes. Do we have a deal?”

The Chaos Ancient God fell silent.

Three seconds later, he gritted his teeth:

“Deal.”

The audience roared with laughter again.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor watched him from the side, his gaze complex.

Lin Chen turned to the Ancient Immortal Emperor.

“Lord Immortal Emperor, what about you?”

The Ancient Immortal Emperor took a deep breath.

“Speak. What do you want me to do?”

Lin Chen opened another document.

“Consultant for the Immortal Realm Development Zone.”

The Ancient Immortal Emperor was stunned.

“Immortal Realm Development Zone?”

Lin Chen nodded.

“Although the Spiritual Energy Star Domain has been rebuilt, it lacks systematic management. Those Cultivators act independently and often clash, affecting production efficiency. You have three million years of ruling experience. What are you best at?”

The Ancient Immortal Emperor thought for a moment.

“Ruling? Management?”

Lin Chen shook his head.

“What you're best at is establishing hierarchy.”

Ancient Immortal Emperor: “...”

Lin Chen continued: “The Immortal Realm Development Zone needs a complete promotion system, so that Cultivators have clear standards and paths for every step from Qi Condensation to Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation. You will serve as the consultant responsible for designing this system.”

“Annual salary of 30 trillion, plus performance bonuses. Deal?”

The Ancient Immortal Emperor was silent for three seconds.

Then he nodded.

“Deal.”

Finally, Lin Chen looked at the Mechanical God.

The Mechanical God's light screen flickered, and before Lin Chen could speak, it asked directly:

“Am I going to be the Chief Technology Officer?”

Lin Chen smiled.

“Smart.”

He opened the third document.

“Chief Technology Officer of New Era Development. Responsible for the maintenance and upgrading of all data systems, the operation and management of Virtual Heaven, and the information security of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms. Annual salary of 40 trillion, plus equity incentives.”

The Mechanical God's light screen flashed.

“Equity incentives?”

“Yes. 1% of New Era Development shares annually, up to a cumulative maximum of 10%. Work for ten years, and you'll be a company shareholder.”

The Mechanical God calculated for three seconds.

Then it said:

“Deal.”

With that, all three Old Gods were recruited by Lin Chen.

The venue erupted in thunderous applause.

The reporters took photos frantically, the representatives stood and cheered, and the beings watching via live broadcast rejoiced.

The Chaos Ancient God stood there, looking at the cheering crowds, a complex expression appearing on his face for the first time.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor sighed softly, his thoughts unknown.

The Mechanical God had already begun calculating various possibilities for its new job.

Zhang Hao stood under the tree of heavenly dao, staring in dumbfounded shock.

“Boss... Boss just recruited them like that?”

Arrogant Dragon remained silent.

Morgana smiled.

Alpha's data form fluctuated slightly:

“This is the Boss's style. Turn enemies into employees and rivals into assets.”

“The most ruthless part is that they actually feel like they've gained something.”

Zhang Hao was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

After the press conference ended, Lin Chen returned to the command post.

Zhang Hao came up to meet him, his face full of excitement.

“Boss! You're incredible! Making the Chaos Ancient God an actor—how did you even come up with that?!”

Lin Chen sat down and took a sip of tea.

“What's wrong with him being an actor? With that chaotic energy of his, he doesn't even need special effects to play a villain.”

Zhang Hao laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight.

Arrogant Dragon asked: “Boss, can that cultural experience park really make that much money?”

Lin Chen looked at him.

“How many civilizations are there in the All Heavens and Myriad Realms? At least ten trillion. Even if only one in ten thousand people from each civilization comes to visit, that's one hundred million people. If each person spends ten thousand dimension points, that's one quadrillion.”

“One quadrillion!” Arrogant Dragon gasped.

Lin Chen nodded.

“So, you think I'm finding a way for them to survive? I'm finding a way for myself to make a fortune.”

Arrogant Dragon fell silent.

He realized he would never be able to understand the Boss's mind.

Morgana walked over and sat down beside him.

“Lin Chen, what's the next step?”

Lin Chen looked at her.

“The next step?”

“The Old Gods are recruited, and New Era Development is stable. What's next?”

Lin Chen was silent for a second.

Then he smiled.

“Next?”

“Going public.”

Morgana was stunned.

“Going public? Isn't New Era Development already listed?”

Lin Chen shook his head.

“That was just the concept board. The real listing is a universal IPO.”

“Let every civilization become a shareholder of New Era Development.”

“Let everyone share in the dividends of the future.”

Morgana looked at him, her gaze complex.

“You're... trying to create a universe that truly belongs to everyone?”

Lin Chen nodded.

“Something like that.”

Outside the window, the starlight was brilliant.

The New Era was beginning.