Chapter 540 - 342: It Turns Out the Highest Realm of an "Infrastructure Maniac" Is Physical Sanctification (Part 2)
Chapter 540: Chapter 342: It Turns Out the Highest Realm of an "Infrastructure Maniac" Is Physical Sanctification (Part 2)
Some of Li Xiang’s Jade Jewelry Shops were converted to specialize in Gold Jewelry and deal in 24-karat gold bars. The rest were transformed into "Spicy Delight" restaurants, which served not just spicy hot pot but a wide variety of food, including fast food.
This is because of the saying, "To the people, food is heaven." The most authentic interpretation of this phrase is its literal one—any extended meanings are irrelevant. Even when the Apocalypse comes, people can’t escape the need to eat.
The original employees were, of course, transferred to the new "Spicy Delight" restaurant company. For example, Li Xiang’s old friend and former colleague, Chen Huanhuan, who had been the manager of a Jade Shop, was now the regional director of food services for an entire Underground City.
After several years of experience, she had matured, exuding an elite aura with her every move.
Li Xiang didn’t even need to make an appearance. The group of regional managers, led by Chen Huanhuan, smoothly secured the best commercial real estate in each Underground City. Their plan was to open "Spicy Delight" restaurants all over, with at least eight branches in every city.
Of course, the success of these key employees was inextricably linked to Li Xiang’s status. The moment they introduced themselves—"We’re from the Spicy Delight Food Service Company..."—people immediately knew it was one of Li Sheng’s enterprises. Who wouldn’t show him some respect?
And who was Li Sheng? He was a trailblazer of the new era, rumored to be the future Head Shopkeeper.
While this was only a rumor, there’s no smoke without fire. Besides, anyone with half a brain could figure it out. In every meeting and news broadcast, Li Xiang was always right next to the center seat. Most importantly, not only was Li Xiang powerful, with unparalleled achievements and high status—he was also young.
Youth was his greatest asset.
He was only in his twenties, after all.
It was said that a Saint Tier Extraordinary Being could live for at least two or three hundred years, perhaps even longer. With all that time, how many terms couldn’t Li Xiang serve? In a time of special crisis, his term might even be for life.
These "Spicy Delight" chain restaurants were also meant to take on other responsibilities. They would gradually venture into media (propaganda, public opinion) and intelligence gathering, but that would have to be a slow process. For now, it was still a time of peace, so there was no rush.
The Underground City of the Dark Saint Realm became a national model. When reporters conducted on-site interviews and broadcast footage from the scene, people finally realized—’Damn, Li Sheng really is a visionary!’ It turned out the names "Eternal Night Media" and "Dark Saint Realm" had a deeper meaning all along, a display of breathtaking foresight.
...
Li Xiang found the time to take a trip to Paris. Erin had given birth to their daughter, a beautiful mixed-race baby, at the best hospital in the city. Li Xiang went to take care of them.
’Poor Erin was all by herself.’
However, money could solve most problems. Before Li Xiang arrived, she had already hired several experienced maternity nurses to look after her.
After she was discharged from the hospital, Li Xiang brought her back to the old castle.
With her child by her side, Erin was much happier. She named the baby "Aurelie Li Merovingian."
Although she had included Li’s surname, Merovingian remained the primary family name. Li Xiang had no objection to this. ’She never even brought up marriage, and it’s not like I can give her that official status, so what right do I have to insist on the Li name?’
The Merovingian Clan was incredibly wealthy; the child was, for all intents and purposes, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Still, as the father, Li Xiang wanted to make a gesture. However, Erin had already prepared everything their daughter could possibly need in abundance, so there was nothing for him to worry about.
So, he decided to play to his strengths and built a magnificent underground palace for Erin, which would also serve as their future Shelter.
It was divided into two main sections: an inner and an outer citadel. The inner citadel was, of course, the residence for Erin and her children. The outer citadel could be used to house refugees and recruited subordinates in the future.
However, Li Xiang warned her to be extremely selective when recruiting followers, ensuring their absolute loyalty. "When the Apocalypse comes," he said, "don’t trust anyone but yourself."
Erin hugged him, chuckling. A woman who single-handedly supported a great family and controlled all its businesses was certainly no naive damsel in distress. She had grown up especially fast after her parents’ death.
One of the businesses under her control was a multinational conglomerate, and she was the big boss behind the scenes—the majority shareholder. In fact, Li Xiang had even "robbed" her once before, but she’d never mentioned it.
Naturally, Li Xiang was extremely meticulous when building a Shelter for his lover and child. The quality was absolutely top-notch.
He even made a special trip to Australia to mine a massive amount of iron ore, which he smelted into Refined Iron. He also gathered many other rare metals and stored them all in the warehouse of Erin’s underground Alchemy Room.
This was because Erin wanted to create more Alchemy Puppets to prepare for the Apocalypse. As her own power grew, the number of puppets she could control increased, and she now dreamed of forging an entire army of them.
At the same time, Li Xiang was also forging large quantities of Battle Sabers, Battle Armor, Long Spears, and Long Swords. Given his current power, when he activated his Crystal Gold Armor to create them, 99% of the results were Extraordinary Items, differing only in their Tier.
The best of these could reach Tier Fifteen or higher, though such items were rare.
Most were below Tier Ten, with the vast majority falling between Tier One and Tier Seven.
He gave some to Erin to arm her Alchemy Puppets, keeping the rest in reserve for the future.
The power source for Erin’s underground palace was the Alchemy Furnace from a Magic Alchemy Ship. She planned to build at least ten more Magic Alchemy Ships, and with the ample supply of metal from Li Xiang, energy would not be an issue.
It was a unique form of nuclear power, incredibly high-tech and advanced. She was also researching how to convert the energy from the Alchemy Furnace into Electric Energy, since modern electronics all required it.