331: Chapter 331 A New Era, A New Identity

On the third day of the new universe's birth, Lin Chen held a special meeting beneath the tree of heavenly dao in the Dead Silence Star Domain.

It was called a meeting, but it felt more like a family gathering.

There weren't many attendees: Zhang Hao, Arrogant Dragon, Morgana, Alpha, Golden Abacus, and the newly incorporated Chaos Ancient God, Ancient Immortal Emperor, Mechanical God, and Yuanshi.

There were no reporters, no live streams, and no shareholders. Just these dozen or so people sitting around a round table under the tree of heavenly dao, with tea and snacks laid out on the table.

Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. In the distance, the stars of the new universe were slowly rotating; everything appeared serene and beautiful.

Lin Chen picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Everyone, the new era has begun."

Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Lin Chen set down his teacup and spoke slowly.

"The old universe has been annihilated, and the new universe has been born. We saved the civilizations that needed saving; we collected the debts that needed collecting; we fought the battles that needed fighting."

"Next, it's time to live a normal life."

Zhang Hao was stunned for a moment. "Boss, you mean..."

Lin Chen looked at him.

"I mean, it's time for me to retire."

The entire place erupted in an uproar.

Zhang Hao was the first to jump up. "Retire?! Boss, how old are you that you're already retiring?!"

Arrogant Dragon also frowned. "The new universe has just been born, and everything is waiting to be rebuilt. You're retiring now?"

Morgana didn't speak; she just looked at him with a complex gaze.

Golden Abacus smiled. "Lin Chen, are you trying to emulate those successful emperors who retreat into the mountains and forests?"

Lin Chen shook his head.

"It's not a retreat. I just don't want to meddle in so much business anymore."

He looked around at the people seated there.

"The new universe is so big and there's so much to do. I can't manage it all alone, and there's no need to."

"So—"

He opened the system and projected a document.

The title of the document was:

[New Era Joint Development Company · Organizational Restructuring Plan]

[Chairman: Lin Chen (Retained, not involved in daily management)]

[CEO: Zhang Hao (Fully responsible for company operations)]

[Reincarnation System Director: Su Qingyu (Responsible for the Reincarnation Mutual Aid Society and emotional asset management)]

[Immortal Realm Development Zone Director: Arrogant Dragon (Responsible for the Spiritual Energy Star Domain and Cultivator civilization development)]

[Frost Culture Ambassador: Morgana (Responsible for the Icebound Star Domain and tourism projects)]

[Chief Technology Officer: Alpha (Responsible for technical systems and data management)]

[Chief Financial Advisor: Golden Abacus (Retains Universe Bank position, concurrent role)]

[Cultural Experience Park Chief Character Actor: Chaos Ancient God]

[Immortal Realm Development Zone Consultant: Ancient Immortal Emperor]

[Chief Technical Director: Mechanical God]

[Honorary Director and Special Advisor: Yuanshi]

Zhang Hao stared at the document, his eyes wide as copper bells.

"Boss, you're making me the CEO? I—I don't even know how to read a financial report!"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"If you don't understand, learn. If you can't learn, hire someone. If you can't hire anyone, find me."

Zhang Hao was stunned.

"Find you? Aren't you retired?"

Lin Chen smiled.

"Retirement means not dealing with daily affairs. But if there's a problem you can't handle, you can come to me."

Zhang Hao was silent for three seconds.

Then he gritted his teeth.

"Fine. I'll do it!"

Arrogant Dragon looked at his own appointment and frowned.

"Immortal Realm Development Zone Director? I'm not fighting anymore?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Can you fight for a lifetime?"

Arrogant Dragon fell silent.

Lin Chen continued, "Those Cultivators in the Spiritual Energy Star Domain need someone to manage them. You've been an Immortal Emperor; you know how to manage. It's a perfect fit."

Arrogant Dragon was silent for three seconds, then nodded.

"Fine. I'll try it."

Morgana looked at her appointment and smiled.

"Frost Culture Ambassador? Continuing to promote tourism?"

Lin Chen nodded.

"What, you don't like it?"

Morgana shook her head.

"I like it. It suits me quite well."

Alpha's light screen flickered, but it didn't speak. It was clearly accepting the new position.

The Chaos Ancient God looked at his appointment with a complex expression.

"Character actor... are you serious?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Serious. An annual salary of 50 trillion, plus a share of the box office. You in?"

The Chaos Ancient God was silent for three seconds.

"I'm in."

The Ancient Immortal Emperor and the Mechanical God also silently accepted.

Yuanshi looked at the words 'Honorary Director' and gave a bitter smile.

"Lin Chen, are you arranging a sinecure for me?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"What's wrong with a sinecure? Sinecures have their benefits. Drink tea, read the paper, and occasionally give Zhang Hao some advice. It's been three million years; aren't you tired?"

Yuanshi fell silent.

Then he let out a sigh.

"Tired."

Lin Chen smiled.

"Then rest."

After the appointments were finished, the crowd dispersed.

Lin Chen sat alone under the tree of heavenly dao, looking at the distant starry sky.

Footsteps came from behind him.

It was Su Qingyu.

She sat down beside Lin Chen and asked softly:

"Have you really decided?"

Lin Chen nodded.

"I've decided."

Su Qingyu was silent for a second.

Then she asked:

"Then what will we do in the future?"

Lin Chen turned to look at her.

"What do you want to do?"

Su Qingyu thought for a moment.

"I want to find a quiet place to plant flowers, read books, and occasionally travel around the various star domains."

Lin Chen smiled.

"Then that's what we'll do."

Su Qingyu also smiled.

The two sat side by side, looking at the distant starry sky.

There, the stars of the new universe were slowly rotating.

And they could finally take a break.

Three months later.

The order of the new universe gradually stabilized.

Zhang Hao was performing quite well as CEO; although he still made small mistakes occasionally, the general direction was fine. He learned to read financial reports, learned to hold board meetings, and learned to maintain a smile in front of the media.

Arrogant Dragon's Immortal Realm Development Zone was thriving. Those Cultivators were kept in line by him, and spiritual energy production had tripled. He still got itchy hands occasionally and wanted to find someone to fight, but he was held back by Zhang Hao every time.

Morgana's Icebound Star Domain became a popular tourist attraction. Every day, countless tourists came to visit the icebound throne ruins, experience the laws of frost, and taste the Ice Spring Brew. Her smiles became more frequent, and she looked more and more like the Morgana of old—proud, stubborn, but no longer lonely.

Alpha managed the technical systems in an orderly fashion. Virtual Heaven was ten times larger than before, storing the memories of countless civilizations. It would occasionally chat with Lin Chen and discuss questions about 'existence'.

The Chaos Ancient God was flourishing in the Cultural Experience Park. His performances were deeply loved by tourists, especially the 'Ancient God Descending' segment, which triggered screams every time. He discovered that he actually enjoyed being an actor.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor became a permanent consultant for the Immortal Realm Development Zone, guiding those Cultivators in their training every day. His majesty remained, but it was tempered with a bit more kindness.

The Mechanical God's data system made the flow of information in the entire new universe a hundred times faster. He remained as cold as ever, but he would occasionally crack a joke—though no one could understand it.

Yuanshi truly lived a retired life. Every day he drank tea, read the paper, and went fishing, occasionally giving Zhang Hao some advice. He discovered that he actually liked this kind of life.

As for Lin Chen and Su Qingyu, they found a remote little planet and built a small cottage.

They planted flowers in front of the house and vegetables in the back, watching the sunrise and sunset every day and occasionally visiting various star domains.

No one knew where they lived.

But every once in a while, Zhang Hao would bring financial reports to find him.

Arrogant Dragon would bring newly brewed spiritual wine to see him.

Morgana would bring Ice Spring Brew to see him.

Alpha would send a pile of data for him to help analyze.

The Chaos Ancient God would send performance videos, asking if he acted well.

Yuanshi would send photos of fishing, bragging about how big a fish he had caught.

The days passed like this, one by one.

Peaceful and beautiful.

This evening, Lin Chen and Su Qingyu sat in rocking chairs in front of the house, watching the sunset slowly fall.

In the distance, a young man was walking toward them.

The young man wore ordinary clothes, and a curious smile was on his face.

He walked to the front of the house and stopped.

"Excuse me, is this the home of Senior Lin Chen?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Who are you?"

The young man scratched his head.

"My name is Lin Xiao. Someone said that someone here could help me."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Help you with what?"

Lin Xiao was silent for a second.

Then he said:

"I want to start a business. But I don't know where to start."

Lin Chen smiled.

That smile was exactly the same as it was three million years ago.

"Start a business?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a project?"

"I have one."

"Let's hear it."

Lin Xiao took a deep breath.

"I want to make something called the 'Life Story Editor'. It will allow anyone to write their own story."

Lin Chen was silent for a second.

Then he looked at Su Qingyu.

Su Qingyu also smiled.

Lin Chen stood up and walked to the front of Lin Xiao.

"Come inside and let's talk."

Lin Xiao's eyes lit up.

"You're willing to help me?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"I can help you, but there are conditions."

"What conditions?"

Lin Chen pointed inside the house.

"Have a cup of tea first, and we'll talk slowly."

Under the sunset, the shadows of the three people were stretched very, very long.

In the distance, the stars of the new universe began to twinkle.

The story continues.