36: Chapter 36: If money doesn't work, resort to underhanded tactics.

Qian Boan left, his face livid as he departed, not even leaving behind a single parting word.

Even the roar of his luxury private jet taking off seemed weak and listless.

In the meeting room, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Satisfying! That was so damn satisfying!" a young engineer couldn't help but shout, slapping his thigh. "I've never seen something so gratifying in my life!"

"Exactly! Trying to smash us with money? Who does he think we are? His stinking money means less than a fart to our Chief Consultant!"

"Did you see Qian Boan's face just now? It was as green as if he'd been poisoned, hahaha!"

The two old men, Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo and Chief Engineer Wang Heshan, were also laughing. Having spent their lives in engineering, they despised businessmen who reeked of nothing but money. In the past, there was no choice—the country needed to develop and lacked funds, so they sometimes had to hold their noses and deal with them.

But now, things were better. The Chief Consultant they were following didn't buy into that nonsense at all.

What business empire? What hundred-billion-dollar net worth? In the face of her ability to "turn stone into gold," it was all just a fart.

This feeling was simply exhilarating.

"Alright, stop laughing." Director Zhao Lixin tapped on the table to quiet everyone down. He looked at Jiang Ning, his expression turning solemn. "Chief Consultant, I'm afraid this matter won't end here."

Jiang Ning nodded; she was well aware of that.

"I've seen many people like Qian Boan," she said in a flat tone, as if speaking of an insignificant trifle. "If he can't do it openly, he'll play dirty. He won't just let this go."

"Exactly," Director Zhao Lixin picked up the thread. "News just came in that the Huanyu Group's stock price was off from the opening bell, with large sums of capital moving in the shadows. He's planning to wage a commercial war against us."

"A commercial war?" Chief Engineer Wang Heshan snorted with disdain. "What can he do? This is a restricted military zone; can he send troops to attack us?"

"He won't send troops, but he has plenty of more disgusting tricks," Director Zhao Lixin explained. "For example, he can throttle our supply chain. While the project's core technology is our own, many supporting devices, instruments, and logistics supplies must be purchased from outside. Qian Boan's network spans the entire country; if he truly decides to sabotage us, it will be very troublesome."

As soon as he said this, the lively atmosphere in the room stiffened once again.

Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo frowned. "That old fox is definitely capable of such a thing. For our subsequent Oasis ecosystem, we need a large number of special pipes and sensors. There are only a few domestic manufacturers, and many of them have Huanyu shares."

"We will deal with the problems as they come," Jiang Ning's reaction remained calm. She had no interest in these business machinations and only cared about her project.

"Our 'Artifact Refining Factory' cannot just produce one type of alloy." She turned to Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo. "I'll give you a few more blueprints. Take your team and figure them out to expand the production lines as quickly as possible. Besides building materials, we need self-repairing biological pipes, crystal sensors that can measure spiritual energy concentration, and... Formation Plates for automatic early warning."

She reeled off a string of new terms in one breath. Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo was stunned but quickly took notes. Although he didn't understand a single word, he believed these were definitely more incredible things beyond imagination.

"As for the matters outside," Jiang Ning looked at Director Zhao Lixin, "that's your job. I don't care what tricks Qian Boan plays; my project cannot stop. Whatever is missing, you get it done for me."

"Yes! I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Director Zhao Lixin straightened his back.

He knew Jiang Ning had handed him the hardest task. But he wasn't intimidated at all; instead, he was full of energy.

Partnering with this kind of "immortal" who only cared about technology and ignored worldly affairs was a relief. The dirty work and the hard labor were meant for mortals like them.

"Also," Jiang Ning stood up and walked out, "I'm going into seclusion for a few days to prepare for a breakthrough."

"A breakthrough?" Director Zhao Lixin's heart tightened.

"Yes, from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment is a hurdle," Jiang Ning said nonchalantly. "During this period, the factory and the formation base must not stop. I need an absolutely quiet environment. I will set up a Restriction at the top of the Oasis Central Tower. Before I come out, no one and nothing is allowed to approach."

"Yes!" Director Zhao Lixin and Chief Engineer Wang Heshan responded in unison, their expressions solemn.

They didn't understand cultivation, but they understood that this matter was of paramount importance.

By doing this, Jiang Ning was essentially telling them that she didn't care about the harassment outside at all. She had her own rhythm and more important things to do.

This composure allowed Director Zhao Lixin and the others to mostly let go of the anxiety they had just felt.

With such a great figure overseeing things, were they really afraid of a mere mortal causing an upset?

...

In the capital, the headquarters of the Huanyu Group.

In the top-floor office, Qian Boan stood before a massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city below with an expressionless face.

His useless son, Vice President Qian Feng, stood behind him, hardly daring to breathe.

"Dad, I... I was wrong," Vice President Qian Feng stammered. "I didn't expect that woman named Jiang to be so arrogant, and that Zhao Lixin, they... they really dared to use guns..."

Qian Boan didn't turn around, nor did he speak.

The office was terrifyingly quiet; Vice President Qian Feng felt the cold sweat on his back soak through his shirt.

After a long while, Qian Boan finally spoke, his voice icy.

"Your mistake wasn't being arrogant; it was being stupid."

"Did you think I sent you there to show off and pick up girls?"

"Dad, I..."

"Shut up," Qian Boan interrupted him. "I sent you to test them. To test what kind of person that Jiang woman really is. To test where the bottom line of the project behind her lies."

He turned around and looked at his worthless son, his eyes full of disappointment.

"And the result? You tested nothing and were driven back. You even left the Huanyu Group's face in that sand."

Vice President Qian Feng's legs went weak, and he almost knelt.

"However, it wasn't entirely without gain." Qian Boan's tone shifted as he walked behind his desk and sat down. "At least you let me see two things clearly."

"First, that Jiang woman is immune to both soft and hard tactics. Using conventional business methods against her won't work."

"Second, the state's protection of this project is at the highest level. It's impossible to strike from within."

His fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a cold glint in his eyes behind his glasses.

"Since the direct path is blocked, then... we'll take another route."

He pressed a button, and his female secretary walked in.

"Send word to start Project Gecko." Qian Boan's tone was devoid of emotion. "Within half a month, I want to see that all suppliers in the Northwest connected to the Kuafu Project have our Huanyu name on their contracts."

"Steel, cement, chemical raw materials, precision instruments, transportation, and logistics... everything. I want it all."

The secretary paused for a moment, clearly shocked by the sheer madness of the plan, but she still nodded professionally. "Yes, Chairman."

"Also," Qian Boan added, "contact 'Ghost'."

Hearing this codename, the secretary's hand trembled slightly.

"Chairman, 'Ghost' is from Country M. Moving them is too risky..."

"Risk?" Qian Boan sneered. "I've spent my whole life making money in the face of risk."

He looked out the window and spoke word by word.

"I need to know exactly what that so-called 'Artifact Refining Factory' is. I want all its data, from design blueprints to operation manuals."

"I'd like to see how you, an immortal who doesn't eat the food of mortals, will continue your project once you've run out of materials and supplies."