8: Spirit Gathering Array Activated

NetEase increased shares and financing by twenty percent, all of which were subscribed by Li Xiuwu's company, diluting the original shares.

Li Xiuwu's shareholding ratio reached forty-one percent; after various capital expenditures, the total was approximately 180 million.

After this matter was completed, Mr. Li's name spread among internet companies.

This was a true angel investor who only invested and did not interfere with company operations.

The equity document and the voting authorization were signed at the same time.

Internet companies needed such investors far too much. Qiu Wanjun's subsequent actions actually became somewhat more convenient.

Zulong Studio, which was on the verge of bankruptcy and dissolution, took a 3D game development plan and proactively approached Qiu Wanjun, hoping to obtain investment.

Li Xiuwu acquired Zulong Studio for ten million, becoming its sole controlling shareholder.

He did not stay in Shenzhen for long; once the funds from Hong Kong arrived in the Golden Age account, he returned to the capital with the money.

[Detected that the host has changed residences. Activate the Spirit Gathering Array?]

"Activate."

A breeze brushed past. The Courtyard House did not appear to have changed, but the air seemed a bit fresher.

[Spirit Gathering Array is continuously active. The array can gather spiritual energy, isolate noise, enhance comprehension, clear the mind, and nourish the body.]

This was a Courtyard House on the north shore of the West Sea, with five courtyards from front to back. The back door led out to the North Second Ring Road, while the West Sea was just outside the south gate.

The south reverse-facing room had been converted into a loft; sitting in the loft, one could enjoy a full view of the West Sea scenery.

On the west side, there was a west side-courtyard that was open from north to south, allowing cars to enter from both the north and south gates.

Li Xiuwu invested in the name of the Shenzhen Golden Culture company to purchase office space for the branch in the capital.

This Courtyard House covered an area of 3,500 square meters. Due to policy and funding issues, the price was affected, requiring only 25 million.

The original owner went abroad and listed it for sale, and it was bought outright by Li Xiuwu.

The low value of the Courtyard House was mainly because policies forbade reconstruction or expansion, and a commitment to carry out repairs was required.

Mortgages were also not allowed for the Courtyard House; it had to be paid in full with cash.

He now had only one thought in his mind: so cheap, buy more.

"Meow." A cat's cry came from the top of the wall.

Li Xiuwu turned around to see a dirty cat, but he could tell it was a white, long-haired Lion Cat with golden eyes.

He sent out a feeling of goodwill in his heart.

"Meow." The Lion Cat felt the goodwill, its golden pupils looking at Li Xiuwu.

"Human, is it you?"

"It's me."

The Lion Cat jumped down from the wall and walked over with elegant cat steps. It circled Li Xiuwu once, then crouched in front of him and looked up.

"So hungry."

Li Xiuwu was stunned, then smiled and said, "Follow me."

He took out a ham sausage, opened the packaging, and placed it on a piece of paper.

"Awoo." The Lion Cat pounced on it and began to eat greedily, making low growling sounds.

It seemed it was indeed very hungry and quite protective of its food.

It didn't stop until it had eaten three sausages.

"Can I rub against you?" It tilted its head.

"You're so dirty." Li Xiuwu looked at its fur; white cats didn't hide dirt well.

"Meow." The Lion Cat's fur bristled slightly, and it turned to leave without the slightest lingering attachment.

"Quite tsundere." Li Xiuwu looked speechlessly at the Lion Cat as it jumped onto the wall.

He didn't mind, taking his camera and notebook to inspect every room.

The house was well-maintained and had been renovated, so it was ready for immediate move-in.

Li Xiuwu also needed to carry out some necessary decorations according to his own needs.

First, install the internet; air conditioning was also needed.

He noted down everything that needed to be repaired or installed in his notebook.

At night, he picked up a book and opened it, feeling that his thinking was very agile. This was much better than being in the tube-shaped apartment building.

With a spacious place to live, his mind also became broader.

In the early morning, the chirping of birds outside the window woke Li Xiuwu up.

He pushed open the window. On the crabapple tree in the yard, over a dozen birds had landed—Sparrows, Orioles, pigeons, and two crows.

"Hello there," he greeted them from the window.

Chirping sounds rang out; these birds were very curious about him.

"Why didn't I see you here yesterday?" Li Xiuwu got dressed and came out to wash up.

"It's so comfortable here today." The Sparrows and Orioles chirped all at once.

"The air is indeed quite fresh." Li Xiuwu nodded; it must have been the effect of the small Spirit Gathering Array from yesterday.

"This is my home. If you want to come and stay in the future, you must report the surrounding situation to me." Li Xiuwu thought about developing them into little intelligence agents.

"Okay, okay."

After communicating with the birds for a while, Li Xiuwu took out a sword and practiced his swordplay in the courtyard.

After learning the sword technique, he practiced for a while every day and felt completely refreshed.

"Meow." The Lion Cat crouched on the wall; today its fur was snow-white, looking very beautiful.

"You're here again?"

"Can Meow rub against you?" It held its head high, its golden pupils looking at Li Xiuwu.

"You really hold a grudge. Go ahead and rub."

The Lion Cat rubbed back and forth against Li Xiuwu's leg for quite some time.

"Come, follow me to get something to eat."

The Lion Cat looked at the birds on the crabapple tree.

"Don't catch them." Li Xiuwu tapped the top of its head.

"Meow eats them. If Meow doesn't catch them, Meow will starve to death."

"I'll take care of you."

The Lion Cat turned back to look at Li Xiuwu.

"Can Meow do mice?"

"You can catch mice."

"Meow will catch mice for you to eat."

"No need. I hate mice, so don't let me see them."

"Meow knows."

"Meow wants to eat fish."

"I'll go to the West Sea to fish for you this afternoon."

One person and one cat walked into the kitchen. Li Xiuwu prepared the food and gave a bowl to the Lion Cat.

On July 20th, a phone call disrupted his peaceful life.

"Student Li Xiuwu, this is a teacher from the Tsinghua University Admissions Office. May I ask if you filled out your application incorrectly? If there's a problem, we at Tsinghua can help you modify it."

"Sorry, Teacher, I didn't fill it out wrong." He hung up immediately after speaking.

Are the Gaokao results out? He remembered they were supposed to be announced on the 23rd, yet Tsinghua already knew.

To have Tsinghua take the initiative to help him change his application, it seemed his scores were very good indeed—probably in the top ten.

Only, did attending Tsinghua University or Peking University still have any meaning for him now?

The phone rang once again.

"Student Li Xiuwu, you might not be aware that your score..."

"Thank you, Teacher. I roughly know my score, and I didn't fill out the application incorrectly."

The call was hung up again.

But not long after, his phone rang again; it was a teacher from Peking University.

"Student Li Xiuwu, I'm downstairs at your house, but you don't seem to be home. I'd like to invite you for a meeting." So said the teacher from Peking University.

"Teacher, may I ask how many points I scored?"

There was a moment of silence on the phone before the answer came: "Full marks in every subject."

Even though he was mentally prepared, the full-score result was beyond his expectations.

He hadn't even lost any points on his essay. This year's Beijing Paper was an independent examination, and the essay topic was 'Rules,' which is a very subjective evaluation.

His essay's direction was the game between morality and the rule of law.

"Sorry, Teacher, I already have plans for my future," Li Xiuwu apologized.

"Whatever conditions Wudaokou gave you, we can offer them too." Peking University thought Tsinghua had contacted him first.

"Sorry, Teacher."

Li Xiuwu ended the call. Over these two days, his phone rang constantly.

Du Yuheng also received the news and called to advise him to consider carefully.

The high school principal made a home visit and, upon not finding him, called personally, promising that as long as he changed his application—whether to Tsinghua or Peking University—he would be given a one-million-yuan scholarship.

They really couldn't understand: was there any comparison between Beijing Film Academy and Tsinghua or Peking University?

[Congratulations to the host for winning first place in the Great Competition of the World's Immortal Sects. System rewards: Ancient Music Mastery, scorched tail zither.]

A massive amount of music theory and instrument knowledge appeared in his mind.

He stood for a good while, accepting this knowledge, and then looked at the ancient zither in front of him.

Placing the zither on the table, he waved his hand to play. The music was beautiful, and the lingering sound curled around the rafters.

The birds outside the window landed on the windowsill as if listening to him play.

"A fine zither." After finishing a piece, he praised it sincerely.

Rebirth is already a path free of worries; why struggle again for Tsinghua or Peking University?

On July 23rd, the results were officially announced. Li Xiuwu, with his full score, could no longer be hidden and was exposed by the media following the Gaokao.

"Teacher Wang, the full-score top scholar from Beijing has applied to our Beijing Film Academy."

At Beijing Film Academy, Wang Jinsong was slow to realize the news. When he received the call from the admissions office, his first reaction was disbelief.

"Li Xiuwu, it's Li Xiuwu." The student who had left the deepest impression on him during the arts exam—with a versatile voice, beautiful swordplay, and an extraordinary appearance.

Even the president, who had heard the news, called: "Old Wang, no matter what, bring that person to our Beijing Film Academy. This is a political mission."

"Understood."

There was no comparison between Beijing Film Academy and Peking University; could he still come to Beijing Film Academy?

Wang Jinsong called Li Xiuwu, feeling his hands tremble slightly.