Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

The terrifying sense of technological power swept over us like a tsunami, far more awe-inspiring than any building in the square.

The original plan was to have 4-6 Class B mechs attend the exhibition. However, considering that this was unprecedented and to boost national confidence, Yu Huai and several other leaders transferred 4 more mechs from the laboratory warehouse of the R&D department to support the school's founding ceremony.

"Boom!!!"

The earth trembled, and three Class B mechs and 24 Class C mechs appeared at the school gate to escort the delegation of envoys from twelve countries.

Those blond, blue-eyed, dark-skinned, fat and thin foreigners, witnessing the magnificent scene, were met with deafening shouts from all directions, almost knocking them over.

However, the cheers were not to welcome them, but rather from the throngs of teachers and students who witnessed the principals already in place, ready to begin their speeches.

Times have changed. The country that was once lagging behind the world now possesses the world's strongest armed forces. The mechs stand tall and majestic, comparable to gods and demons. The huge, black cannons contain the absolute power to wipe out carbon-based life forms. Seeing this, hundreds of overseas visitors felt a mix of emotions, their eyes filled with complex feelings of envy, jealousy, and fear.

The hundreds of millions of viewers outside the live broadcast camera felt an even stronger sense of pride, their fingers frantically tapping the keyboard on the screen, creating a continuous stream of comments like a waterfall.

Nine o'clock.

As the conference began, Principal Ye Cangnan's authoritative voice resounded throughout the square. He delivered a speech with the most impassioned and inspiring words, which stirred the hearts of every teacher and student present and filled them with energy.

ten o'clock.

As the conference drew to a close, amidst the eager anticipation of the crowd, the principal, his voice booming like a bell, announced with fervor and excitement, his face radiating despite his advanced age:

"Next up, please—"

"The strongest seeker of the Dao, spanning two centuries; the most astonishing sect leader in the history of the Trinity Sect; who pacified the seven great demon caves, guarded the vast lands, and stands atop the pinnacle of all extraordinary individuals worldwide—the undisputed legend, Chen Qing Xuanzun, has arrived!!!"

In an instant, the square erupted in thunderous applause, the students' screams were deafening, and the live broadcast rooms on major online platforms were instantly abuzz with excitement.

The leaders of the twelve visiting delegations, who had been sidelined, subtly changed their expressions, as if they were conjuring up extremely bad thoughts.

As countless eyes focused on the podium, a tall, slender figure slowly walked onto it. Dressed in white, with a handsome and refined appearance, his mere presence in the square propelled the already vibrant and exciting atmosphere to an even greater peak.

Jiang Mo calmly walked to the center of the podium, a summer breeze blowing in his face.

A smile seemed to play on his lips, and his gentle gaze swept over the 120,000 teachers and students like lightning. His clear and calm voice was as kind as a teacher's, penetrating into everyone's heart.

“Jiang Mou…”

"And I wish you all to be ambitious and enterprising, like eagles soaring in the sky and dragons roaming the heavens, free from all constraints, and to freely paint a magnificent picture of your lives."

"Never forget your original aspirations, and let China shine brightly."

The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause and shouts that pierced the sky. The spirited students, so encouraged, were overjoyed.

The thunderous applause lasted for a long time, and the power of faith between his brows erupted like a tidal wave. Jiang Mo could feel the admiration of countless people for him, and he could only smile, his expression remaining calm.

In a short while, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was ready.

The four principals, nine deans, 38 senior members of the Security Council, three heads of the nine departments, and six executive officers all came to Jiang Mo's side to participate in this historic moment with him.

Yu Huai and Lu Jin chatted and laughed as if nothing was wrong, keeping him company.

"Then, I hereby declare that Crimson Summer University is hereby established!" Ye Cangnan shouted in celebration.

As everyone cut the ribbon, the red ribbon split into many pieces, marking the successful conclusion of the school founding ceremony. The remaining time was for free visits.

The school's senior officials stayed behind to maintain order, while the Security Council and the nine departments quietly left for the highest-level conference room on campus, which had been sealed off.

The delegations from the twelve countries, led by several vice presidents, arrived one after another, took their seats, and prepared for the talks.

On the Chinese side, the three presidents and three heads of the nine departments were in charge of the negotiations.

The rest of the people sat in the back row, including Jiang Mo. Gao Mei and Lü Ci sat down next to him and greeted him, but he responded with a smile and gestured for them to keep quiet.

Each of the twelve leaders had one or two people present, sitting in the front row on the right side of the conference room, totaling 24 people. They were like two armies facing each other, and after going through the basic etiquette and greetings, a business war without gunpowder began.

Colin, born into a British aristocratic family, had gray hair and a weathered face, yet he was exceptionally confident and composed. He spoke slowly but powerfully, looking at his old friends ahead with a smile on his lips, and got straight to the point.

"Gentlemen, we have come from afar because we have an extremely urgent need for your ability locks. I wonder what you have thought of the conditions we proposed earlier?"

He spread his hands, his expression somewhat helpless, and through subtle body language, he seemed to be saying that he had made the greatest effort to compromise.

Seeing this, an elderly man from one of the nine departments chuckled and teased:

“Colin, if you mean selling our hard work to you at an extremely low price, I think you should make another trip. It doesn’t take long to get from here to America. I suggest you use your shameless language to discuss with them how to rob them more effectively.”

"Ning, we're all old acquaintances, yet you speak so sharply and harshly. This isn't how you treat your guests..."

Colin speaks fluent Chinese, with almost no noticeable accent.

He stroked his rough hands, his eyes growing increasingly kind, completely unconcerned by the sarcastic remarks, and then tentatively asked:

"A further 20% price reduction? And an export tax reduction to 15%? I think that would be a very suitable price for both parties. As you know, we need a huge volume of goods. If we are both willing to compromise, we can take this opportunity to lay a solid foundation for cooperation, which will benefit both of us in the future."

The 23 representatives beside him were waiting for a reply.

However, to everyone's surprise, what Yu Huai said next ruthlessly shattered their illusions, making the visitors' faces suddenly turn ugly.

"The so-called cooperation that benefits both parties is just wishful thinking on your part."

"I must solemnly declare that the price I previously offered you has been affected by wars around the world and currency devaluation. Therefore, I can no longer offer you the most favorable price of $5 for a set of superpower locks under the original conditions."

“I’m sorry, Mr. Colin, your hesitation has caused you to miss the best opportunity. The current price is $10 per set, and the export tax is 35%.”

Yu Huai stated the latest prices clearly and logically, his voice steady and powerful, seemingly indifferent to the feelings of any of the visitors.

"This... Mr. Yu Huai!? How can you go back on your word? Didn't we clearly agree on 5 US dollars before?"

Some people's faces changed drastically; these conditions were practically a death sentence for them.

“The past was different from the present.”

Yu Huai stared at the breathtakingly beautiful Level 4 Awakened from Russia, ignoring her innocent and bewildered expression.

Those who come here to negotiate are all seasoned veterans, cunning beyond measure, the kind who would devour people without spitting out the bones, and are even willing to fight tooth and nail for their own country's interests.

His gaze was sharp as a sword, and a slight smile played on his lips as he answered with ease:

"But what remains unchanged, Raisa, you should believe that I have always maintained the most friendly attitude and cooperated with you. It is not me who changes orders from morning to evening, but the current chaotic situation of war raging around the world. You either blame it for going back on its word, or you try to find a way to change it and make it more stable, instead of pointing the finger at me."

"........"

After Yu Huai revealed the truth, the Level 4 Awakened One fell silent.

There was nothing she could do about it. She knew that if the transaction were to proceed at the original price, it would harm China's interests. Based on that alone, the other party would never back down.

Colin's eyes narrowed, but a cold smile crept across his face.

He could easily see the intentions of these hosts: to make a quick buck before the global monetary system collapsed, like starving ghosts desperately trying to grab a large share.

But that's precisely the problem: in another month or two, that money might be worthless.

No matter how much the twelve countries pay or how much they drain, in the end, all that money will still be used by China to buy metals and minerals. They will take everything they are entitled to. The price is just a pretext; what they really want are abundant resources. Therefore, the condition attached to the transaction of the ability lock will definitely be that they will buy back a large amount of natural resources at the current price in the short term.

Why not just trade natural resources using supernatural locks?

Firstly, it's troublesome because there's no way to directly measure the exchange value of different goods.

Secondly, the existing world monetary system dominated by the US dollar has not yet collapsed and is more convenient to use. Large-scale transactions will exacerbate inflation and only make the old world monetary system collapse faster and faster.

And its demise is only a prelude to a new reconstruction.

Thinking of this, Colin was caught in a dilemma. China's ambitions were even more terrifying than he had imagined. It was like a savage beast pouncing on them and tearing off a piece of bloody flesh.

The more Colin looked at that white hair, the more he loathed Lu Jin and Yu Huai. He dared not relax at all when faced with such formidable opponents.

Chapter 369 Not an Inch Yielded, Seizing Future Resources

The atmosphere at the scene was somewhat tense, and Yu Huai's assertiveness indicated that there was no room for compromise.

The representatives of the visitors looked at each other, feeling immense psychological pressure.

This was the other side's home turf, and although they were displeased, they dared not show it, because the other side's teachers were listening from the audience.

That indifferent gaze swept over the 24 representatives, like a sharp blade pressed against their throats from afar, making them feel like they were sitting on pins and needles, and almost out of a survival instinct, they were cautious in their words and actions.

This is the power of Jiang Mo's intimidation.

Even without saying a word, he simply sat there quietly, yet he was the unseen focus of the entire room.

Before speaking, the representatives would always consider their words carefully, wondering if they were too harsh or offensive, for fear that a conflict might arise and that Chen Qingxuan would kill them on the spot.

After all, this person's domineering nature is well-known throughout the world. In last year's North Colley Island battle, countless forces of the supernatural suffered heavy casualties. In order to preserve their foundation, their leaders and chiefs traveled thousands of miles to personally visit the mountain steps of the Trinity Gate, kowtowing step by step, and offering cultivation manuals for redemption. However, no one dared to stand up and fight to the death.

In everyone's imagination, perhaps only that Awakened One from the United States who broke through to level 5 was qualified to compete with Jiang Mo, and most likely would even suffer a loss. As for the other juniors, they were far inferior.

Just as Colin was pondering a solution, the robust, white-bearded old man sitting beside him—Douglas, the current patriarch of another British ducal family—slightly frowned and gave a clear rebuttal to Yu Huai's request:

"Yu, you say the situation is chaotic, so in order to maintain your initial interests, you changed the transaction price, transferred the risks to us, and are even going to exploit us to the bone. Is this what you call the most friendly attitude towards cooperation? Forgive my poor eyesight, but I can't see a trace of sincerity."

“Our budget is really limited. The price of $10 plus the 35% export tax is just too expensive, outrageously expensive. Not all awakened beings can afford this expense. Please reconsider.”

Yu Huai smiled faintly, a hint of coldness appearing on her face, and said incisively:

"No, no, no! Douglas, I think you've got it wrong."

"This money is not something that those awakened individuals need to advance. Their awakened abilities, their continuous evolution, pose a serious and unavoidable threat to your order."

"It is you who are afraid, it is you who want to control them. Without a doubt, whether it is $5 or $10, this money is still something you have to pay."

"Of course, if you don't care at all, if you don't want to control them, and if you have the absolute power to limit them, then there's no need to spend this money at all. However, you are exactly the opposite of what I'm saying; you don't have either of those two points."

The atmosphere in the room plummeted to freezing point once more. Yu Huai glanced at the other representatives, then looked at Douglas and stated bluntly:

"Besides, you said you couldn't see my 'friendly' sincerity. Do we need to bring up old grievances?"

“Tell us about the despicable means your parents used to plunder our wealth and harass our people in the last century. I think the conditions I proposed weren’t harsh enough and should be revised.”

"........"

Douglas was unsettled by what he was being said.

He sensed that Yu Huai was ready to raise the price at any moment, and that this was no bluff. He immediately had a bad feeling and quickly explained:

"Yu, I think I was rash. I have indeed seen your sincerity, but there may still be some misunderstandings between us. I think as long as..."

Seeing that he had changed the subject and dared not address the past, Yu Huai coldly interrupted him:

"Then shut up. I don't have the patience to listen to your long-winded explanation."

"$10, export tax 35%. If you want to refuse or bargain, you can leave now."

Douglas nodded stiffly, offering no further rebuttal.

He and the three British representatives knew that these were conditions that could not be changed and that there was no point in continuing to argue, so they stopped talking and instead exchanged opinions through writing.

At this point, visitors from Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and India had no choice but to ask the question that they cared about most.

"Mr. Yu, what about us? The price has changed..."

Due to their geographical proximity and the fact that these countries' economies are also facing collapse, the price previously offered by China was over 3 US dollars per set of superpower locks, with a 30% tariff.

Now these delegations are shocked to see that European countries such as Britain, Russia, France, and Germany have been ripped off, with superpower locks costing 100,000 yuan a set. If they were also sold at that price, their purchases would be reduced by at least two-thirds.

"Double the price, round it up to 7 per set, and the tax remains the same."

As Yu Huai finished speaking, the expressions of the nearly 10 representatives were somber. This result was within their expectations, and even though they were mentally prepared, the moment it was announced was still unpleasant.

Some people's lips trembled as if they wanted to say something, but in the end they gave up and remained silent with their heads bowed.

They had no choice; brain chips were more expensive in the US, and there was a shortage there, so they didn't have any extra stock to supply other countries.

Even if they exist, the starting price for a single chip is 200,000, requiring bidding from countries around the world. The entire process would cost at least 300,000 to 400,000. Moreover, the implantation of brain chips requires sophisticated biological instruments and scientists to perform the transplantation surgery.

These two factors alone would be enough to deter most countries. In comparison, China's superpower lock is extremely cost-effective, locking instantly without any extra steps.

The crowd seemed somewhat unsure and remained hesitant.

Such prices have exacerbated their already precarious domestic economy, and a slight misstep could lead to a complete collapse. Making a decision in a short period of time is indeed difficult.

"I'll give you half an hour to consider it."

"Please consider it carefully. If you have made up your mind, you can vote at any time. The latest contract has been drafted. Since the situation in each country is different, the contract is also different. Please think carefully before accepting it."

Yu Huai did not continue to pressure them and let it go.

Representatives from various countries began to whisper and discuss amongst themselves, occasionally frowning and nodding.

After weighing the pros and cons for more than 20 minutes, Colin from the UK, having considered his options, raised his right hand to vote in favor.

"We can accept the price you offered for the jade. We haven't checked the related conditions yet, but we can guess some of them. We will return the cultural relics that belong to you on time."

Colin's magnetic voice was deep and resonant. His expression was serious as he carefully crafted his words, uttering each syllable from his throat:

"I'm sorry for what has happened in the past and cannot be changed."