Chapter 548 - 344: Thousand-Fold Golden Waves Shake the World, the Extraordinary Monument Settles Heaven and Earth
Chapter 548: Chapter 344: Thousand-Fold Golden Waves Shake the World, the Extraordinary Monument Settles Heaven and Earth
Given his current status, Li Xiang’s participation in global aid and reconstruction efforts was not a solo affair. He didn’t fly there himself but traveled by private jet, with a team in tow.
The team consisted of over thirty people, all of them the cream of the crop. Every single one had bested countless candidates in the grueling civil service examinations and was a person of exceptional ability, handpicked after being tempered within the system.
Although Li Xiang was down-to-earth and approachable, these elites—each capable of holding their own at work—couldn’t help but feel a little reserved and pressured in his presence.
Everywhere Li Xiang went, local embassy staff, ethnic Chinese, and overseas compatriots would line the streets to welcome him, waving small flags and shouting their greetings.
Plenty of locals turned out as well. Sometimes, the crowds were immense.
One occasion was even more incredible. When Li Xiang arrived in a city known for its beautiful women, he had just stepped off the plane when several women in the cheering crowd below became so excited they fainted on the spot.
Li Xiang: "..."
He glanced at the team members behind him. One of his secretaries said respectfully, "Don’t doubt it, sir. You really are that charismatic."
Another person added, "The last time something like this happened, I believe it was at a Michael Jackson concert."
Security personnel carried the fainted fans to an ambulance. Li Xiang scanned them from a distance with his Spiritual Power and, seeing they were in no danger, felt relieved. He then led his team down the red carpet to greet the local head of state, shaking their hand and beginning a conversation.
He was only responsible for meeting with the leaders, reaching a consensus, and using his Divine Techniques to aid in the construction of the Underground City. All other specific matters were naturally handled by his team.
This was because the Eastern Great Power’s aid always came with a series of partnerships and agreements, which this team specialized in handling. Mmm, the panda never gets the short end of the stick. If they were really as foolish as some people claim, just handing out gifts left and right, how could they have grown to become the world’s second-largest economy—and quite possibly already the largest?
Although GDP rankings exist, the calculation methods actually vary from country to country.
The domestic approach uses the production method, where the value of actually produced goods, minus the cost of producing them, determines the nation’s GDP.
Big Beauty, on the other hand, prefers the expenditure method, which is based on the total spending of individuals, corporations, and the government. Even many American media outlets (such as the New York Times) believe this calculation method leads to an inflated GDP. Furthermore, they include consumption data from numerous financial and service industries in their statistics, whereas, by comparison, our country often excludes such data.
Then you have other countries, like India, which include cow dung in their GDP calculations. One can’t say they’re entirely wrong; after all, cow dung is a form of wealth, isn’t it?
Besides cow dung, they also factor in the simple dwellings in the Dharavi slum in Bangladesh at market value, even though these homes don’t actually generate significant rental income. And so on.
In short, GDP figures are best taken with a grain of salt.
As Li Xiang toured the globe, performing countless miracles, his fan base grew even larger.
Previously, most people had only watched his livestreams on their phones or televisions. But how could watching through a screen ever compare to the awe of witnessing it in person?
...
At the Global Anti-Exotic Beast Alliance Headquarters in the Imperial Capital, Li Xiang held a press conference to answer reporters’ questions.
One reporter inquired about the technical details of the Moon Base: "You built the base on the far side of the Moon in under an hour. Does this mean that a Saint Tier Transcendent has surpassed current aerospace technology? In the future, will the Moon Base be opened to other nations for scientific research?"
Li Xiang replied, "Saint Tier abilities do indeed push beyond the limits of traditional engineering, but the base’s construction still relies on scientific principles. For example, the ’Candle Dragon’ radio telescope must adhere to the laws of astrophysics. Until the Black Mist Star Realm consumes the Solar Element, the Moon Base will prioritize our nation’s research. However, we welcome the international academic community to participate through collaborative proposals, provided they comply with the principles of the Earth Security Convention."
After all, the Apocalypse is still a few years away, so there is still a bit of time to conduct research on the Moon.
Another reporter asked about the recent, frenzied pace of Underground City construction aid: "When you help weaker nations build their Underground Cities, do you require them to sign unequal treaties? Are there geopolitical intentions behind the Eastern Great Power’s assistance?"
Li Xiang answered, "All aid projects are based on a cooperative framework of equality and mutual benefit, such as resource exchange, technology sharing, or a consensus on security guarantees. Our nation’s aid is not a handout; it is a practical step toward fostering a community with a shared future for humanity. If certain countries consider ’mutual benefit’ to be a geopolitical ploy, then I’m afraid they misunderstand the very nature of cooperation."
It had to be said that Li Xiang had truly matured. He delivered these diplomatic statements with practiced ease, prompting many of the influential figures in attendance to nod in silent approval.
Of course, most people were more concerned about the future application requirements for the Breathing Technique.
A beautiful reporter stared at Li Xiang with a scorching gaze. "My dear Li, in the eligibility review for the advanced Breathing Technique and Body Techniques, how will you screen applicants for undiscovered criminal acts? For instance, what about someone who committed murder in secret, where no case was ever opened?"
Li Xiang completely ignored the reporter’s ravenous gaze, as if she wanted to eat him alive. He already had a prepared answer and spoke with articulate confidence, "The conventional process involves reviewing criminal records, but that can only screen for documented wrongdoings. To address undiscovered crimes, Extraordinary Beings must use Extraordinary means. For example, in the future, all Underground Cities will establish a testing mechanism similar to the ’Heart Image Judgment,’ which will use Superpowers to perceive an applicant’s Spiritual Fluctuations and karmic ties. Of course, the specific regulations will need to be formulated in accordance with local laws and ethical frameworks."