Chapter 77: Interviewing a Gifted Employee

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"Greetings, President Mia. I must confess, your grace and beauty left me so astonished that I lost myself for a moment. Please forgive my lapse," Zheng Haoyue stepped forward at once, offering a gentlemanly bow, his words open and unflinching.

This, one had to admit, was a skill honed by his upbringing. In a family like Zheng Haoyue's, he had been taught how to handle various situations, including how to interact with people from different countries and regions—never quite the same as back home.

Now, having momentarily lost his composure, Zheng Haoyue chose to resolve the awkwardness with a candid compliment.

"What an interesting youngster. There's such heavy resentment lingering on you—has something troubled your heart? And I sense you haven't fully digested the aura of some divine beast’s blood. Did you just participate in your country's freshman combat trial and reap some gains at the entrance to the Wind King's ruin?" Mia spoke slowly, her voice carrying an almost irresistible allure that stirred one's very soul.

Fortunately, the power his father had imparted to him lingered within Zheng Haoyue, and he dared not meet Mia's gaze directly, so he fared better than most.

Zheng Haoyue instinctively frowned, suspecting Mia had investigated him in advance due to her collaboration with his father. Was she not just picking at his old wounds? He would not confront her publicly, but inwardly he was displeased.

"President Mia, what do you think? Can my son pass?" Zheng Tiangang asked, a trace of nervousness in his tone as he looked at Mia.

Pass?

Before Zheng Haoyue could process the complexity of the situation, Mia had already risen slowly from her seat.

"He barely qualifies. It seems you value this son greatly, Mr. Zheng. I suppose you intend for him to establish ties with us in the future. Well, that's settled. I leave tomorrow for my country—just have him come with me," Mia said, giving Zheng Haoyue a cursory glance before departing.

Zheng Haoyue saw her step forward, and then she was simply gone. The elaborate formations safeguarding the Zheng family's luxury island hotel’s most exclusive suite had no effect on her whatsoever.

"Dad, what... what just happened?" Zheng Haoyue was thoroughly bewildered.

"Hahaha…" Zheng Tiangang rose, laughing heartily, and patted his son on the shoulder, leading him to the best spot for viewing—the city's most breathtaking nightscape stretched before them.

"Haoyue, at last our Tiangang Group has a real chance to break into the upper echelons of the alchemy world. Mia is the president of the European Spirit Channeling Association. She may look even younger than you, but in truth, she’s nearly a century old—she was already ancient before the resurgence of spiritual energy."

"Normally, after the resurgence, someone like her would have faded away, but through some unknown fortune, she became one of Europe's earliest powerhouses. This time, it was she who sought our partnership."

Hearing his father say Mia was over two hundred years old, born in the early twentieth century, Zheng Haoyue could scarcely believe it.

"Do they have a pharmaceutical group?"

"Haha..." Zheng Tiangang couldn't help but laugh again at the mention. "To be honest, before negotiations with President Mia, I never imagined such good fortune would come our way."

"You mentioned before there was internal strife at Lin Pharmaceutical, and maybe we’d have a chance to get involved. I didn’t pay it much mind, but now, soon, we’ll become shareholders of Lin Pharmaceutical."

"What…? Lin Pharmaceutical? How is that possible?" Zheng Haoyue was stunned. He’d assumed they were talking about some large alchemy conglomerate under Mia’s control.

"Lin Kunshan is increasing capital and expanding shares, selecting several partners. I don’t know how Mia negotiated with them, but they qualified to join. However, as a religious force and foreign capital, they face many restrictions. So they needed us to jointly establish a company, with us holding fifty-one percent."

"From now on, we’ll be shareholders in Lin Pharmaceutical and connected to Mia’s people as well. And because of this partnership, Mia’s side is offering a unique opportunity: in one of their secret ruins, you’ll receive tremendous benefits—not merely a boost in strength."

"You missed out on the biggest prizes from the freshman combat trial, but that’s nothing. Those who receive Mia’s quota usually break through to the Soaring Cloud Realm within two or three years. This ruin only opens once a decade, and the slots are few and far between. Only because of this collaboration do we have the chance to ask for and receive such a place."

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"Haha, son, do your best. Your starting point is so much higher than mine ever was. My path of cultivation has reached its peak, but you are different. Perhaps before you even graduate college, you’ll become a Soaring Cloud master—then you’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest powerhouses," Zheng Tiangang said, slapping his son’s shoulder with pride.

Breaking through to the Soaring Cloud Realm during university was rare, but those who did were all renowned across the land. Zheng Haoyue could hardly contain his excitement. To become a shareholder in Lin Pharmaceutical by working with Mia, and to gain access to benefits greater than the core zone of the freshman combat trial—he felt as if he were dreaming.

...

A month passed in the blink of an eye. At the very height of his fame and during the most intense succession battle within Lin Pharmaceutical, Lin Qingyun entered seclusion to refine pills.

Within that month, countless hot topics rose and fell, but to Lin Qingyun’s surprise, upon his emergence, the spotlight still revolved around him.

Haicheng University, with its deep foundation, had already begun to reap the rewards of their early collaborations. Once Lin Qingyun unleashed his trump card, Executive Vice President Hong Weimin took personal charge of the matter. Even Qian Shanming, who rarely involved himself in campus affairs, invested himself fully this time.

Within a month, several new pills had already hit the market—specifically formulated for Soaring Cloud practitioners, more potent than their competitors yet not much more expensive. These pills were crafted by both standard and master alchemists, of whom Haicheng University had no shortage. Simultaneously, a batch of cost-effective, superior materials, weapons, and pill furnaces appeared on the market.

Dozens of patents were registered at once, causing a sensation. Their actions were so bold and broad that Haicheng University became the center of attention. Naturally, the university did not reveal details, and outsiders speculated that this was a long-accumulated outburst of the university’s century-old foundation.

Only Haicheng University could manage such a feat; if it were any other group, their secrets would have been unearthed long ago. Here, the university simply needed to give a brief report to the highest levels of the Ministry of Education.

Fortunately, though the attention was intense, it was all positive, and Haicheng University both welcomed and needed it.

The first thing Lin Qingyun did after leaving seclusion was to enjoy a hearty meal. During his pill-refining retreat, he had subsisted on fasting pills, which, though they staved off hunger and provided all necessary energy, made the deprivation of real food nearly unbearable.

Chu Qing had been busy, with many tasks requiring her presence outside, so she hadn’t been able to greet Lin Qingyun immediately upon his return. Chao-ge kept him company, eating a little but mainly reporting on recent developments.

With so many projects launching simultaneously, they had already recruited over a hundred graduating students at Lin Qingyun's suggestion, yet it still wasn’t enough.

They were involved in every project; cooperation with Haicheng University was smooth, but the actual work came down to individuals—and wherever people are, problems arise.

"We’ve established a supervision department and uncovered a few minor issues. Haicheng University has also set up a dedicated department for these projects, with our people and theirs evenly split."

"Even after hiring over a hundred, we’re still understaffed. I plan to recruit from outside as well, not just Haicheng University, to avoid everyone being from the same background—diversity prevents future problems. I’m already working on this."

"Also, you need to promote a few more people to management; the two of us can’t handle everything anymore. By the way, there’s one more thing—just the other day, Chi Ziyang, that young Daoist, suddenly approached me about joining our team. He’s extremely talented; if he joins, it should be at management level. I haven’t replied yet."

After reporting the general situation, Chao-ge laid out some specific issues, ending with Chi Ziyang’s request for Lin Qingyun’s decision.

"Chi Ziyang wants to join?" Lin Qingyun had been listening quietly, but this news truly surprised him.

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And for good reason. If Lin Qingyun hadn’t suddenly pulled ahead, Chi Ziyang would have been a contender for first place alongside Nangong Lingyue. By the end of the tally, Chi Ziyang and Zhen Qiang were not far behind Nangong Lingyue.

Top prodigies like these all had their own pursuits. While Chao-ge and his team had recruited a few freshmen, most participated only part-time, unlike graduating students who were more settled.

But for someone like Chi Ziyang to actively seek them out—this was indeed unexpected.

"Set up a meeting with him. I’ll see him shortly," Lin Qingyun said, then turned to Chao-ge and Chu Qing. "You two are in charge—promoting subordinates is your call. Our main focus is on finance and supervision; let Haicheng University worry about the rest."

"Also, start preparing for our own headquarters here. Haicheng University just finalized an expansion with the education authorities for an industrial R&D park. Arrange for a few buildings there for us. As we grow, we can’t keep working scattered across different sites."

"In the beginning, we developed too quickly to consider this, but now we must plan ahead. Coordinate with Professor Qian and Principal Hong on my behalf. We don’t need university funding—government support for this initiative is more than enough."

"Also, we don’t need to invest any of our own funds right now; our capital should be accumulating. Soon, we’ll establish an investment department. Over the coming period, our funds will be directed there, focusing on financial investments."

Having lived a second life, if nothing else, Lin Qingyun understood the general trends of the future. He might not know the details of each stock's performance in the first decade—his past life had been too driven and obsessive for that—but he knew which industries would boom, and when.

Just this broad knowledge was enough to make a fortune. Not to mention, after Han Ze’s downfall, the massive ripple effects on the financial markets would present even more opportunities for profit.

"I was about to mention it—our funds are growing, and it’s a waste to just let them sit there. We’ll need professionals for this; our students aren’t qualified. I’ll have a headhunter find the right people," Chao-ge nodded.

"Professionals are fine, but we must ensure proper oversight—they’ll follow my instructions to the letter…" Lin Qingyun gave further detailed guidance.

"Strange, Chu Qing said she’d be here by now—where is she?" As their discussion wound down, Chao-ge checked the time, puzzled.

She had just praised Chu Qing for her dedication; Chu Qing was always proactive and, though somewhat apprehensive around Lin Qingyun, worked hard for his approval. Chao-ge had reassured her that the past was behind them and they were all on the same side now, but Chu Qing remained cautious.

"No rush, here comes Chi Ziyang now…" Lin Qingyun smiled as someone knocked, and the door swung open. In walked Chi Ziyang, the young Daoist in his robe, radiating youthful vigor.

"Boss Lin, is this an interview? Should I have worn a suit or something? I got your message last minute and didn’t have time to change—hope you don’t mind the robe. It's not out of disrespect," he said.

Though they were classmates, this was their first real meeting. Unlike most students, Chi Ziyang didn’t greet them with a martial salute—his manner was thoroughly steeped in the ways of the martial world.

Naturally, Chao-ge had already informed Lin Qingyun about Chi Ziyang’s background. With a prodigy of his caliber joining, a thorough background check was essential.

He was an orphan, raised by an old Daoist, and had a distinctly streetwise manner. He was actually a year younger than Lin Qingyun and had barely attended high school, but under his mentor’s guidance, he had excelled in formations and talismans, earning his special admission to Haicheng University.

In fact, neither Nangong Lingyue, Chi Ziyang, nor Lin Qingyun had entered university the conventional way.