Chapter 431: A New Prey, the Immortal Doctor Appears!
'Dragon King Consort Han Qi, who is low-key and patient, is currently in the stage of accumulating strength, making him difficult to trust and inconvenient to invest in.'
'If I make a mistake, he might even send someone to kill me in secret.'
'It's better to find a more suitable and awesome future prominent figure!'
Long Hao pondered for a long time, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. He finally decided against investing in the Dragon King Consort, Han Qi, for now. A cold shiver, unrelated to the air-conditioned room, traced a path down his spine just thinking about it.
After all, Han Qi was a terrifying specimen of a man. His low-key demeanor was a mask, his patience a predator's stillness before the strike. A heart as deep and treacherous as mountains and rivers lay hidden beneath that facade, making him utterly impossible to trust.
The man was the dignified Second Young Master of the Emperor Capital's Han Family, the true underground emperor of Magic City's Dark World. Yet, he could stomach becoming a live-in son-in-law for the second-rate Liu family, enduring daily mockery and insults as a useless piece of trash. What kind of monstrous willpower did that require? It spoke of a ruthlessness that chilled Long Hao to the bone.
'A man like that doesn't see benefactors,' Long Hao thought, his hands clenching into fists. 'He only sees tools and obstacles. He would suspect I was a pawn sent by his rival, Han Xiu. He wouldn't hesitate. One night, a shadow would slip into my room, and my rebirth story would end with a blade across my throat. No, that's a risk I can't afford to take.'
That would be more than a big problem; it would be the end of his second chance. Currently, Long Hao was pathetically weak, a mere Houtian-level cultivator with three stages of inner strength. He was barely stronger than a common street brawler. Facing the hidden daggers of a future Dragon King was suicide.
'It's better to wait,' he concluded, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. 'I'll wait until I'm stronger, until I have enough power to be seen as an ally, not a disposable pawn. Then, I can help Han Qi deal with Han Xiu. A successful investment at that point will surely yield unimaginable returns.'
Having made his decision, the tension drained from his body, replaced by a surging wave of electrifying excitement. His face lit up, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Next," he whispered to himself, his voice trembling with exhilaration, "if I can successfully invest in that person, it won't just be a return… it will make me soar! The perfect first pot of gold!"
Long Hao's face was a mask of pure, unadulterated excitement. He had found an investment target far more suitable, far more glorious, and infinitely safer than the coiled viper that was Han Qi.
In his memories, two and a half years from now, this individual would surpass everyone. He would leave not only the Dragon King Consort Han Qi in the dust but also eclipse the Asura Demon King Chu Yun and the Alliance Master Yan Lingxiao. Even the Lord of Youming Hall, the fearsome War God Ye Yan, might not be his equal.
In Long Hao's impression, only two figures from his past life stood on a similar pedestal: the peerless Sword God Ye Linyuan and another mysterious, transcendent existence. And when it came to a sterling reputation, a name praised by the heavens and beloved by the masses, this person was leagues ahead of them all.
Immortal Doctor Lu Ran!
The name itself felt heavy with destiny. This was a man who could snatch souls from the brink of death, mend shattered bodies, and practice medicine for the pure benefit of humanity. A living saint.
Although the Immortal Doctor was currently a nobody, a nameless face in the crowd, who in the world wouldn't know his name two and a half years later? His fame wouldn't be confined to Yanxia. No, the name 'Immortal Doctor Lu Ran' would echo like thunder across the entire globe.
Long Hao could still vividly recall the scenes from his past life. Countless billionaires, tech moguls, and royal figures from every corner of the earth would flock to Yanxia. They would abandon their pride, their dignity, and their arrogance, crying and pleading on their knees for a single consultation with Lu Ran. They would offer fortunes, private jets, and entire islands just for a chance to have him save their lives.
An Immortal Doctor who saved lives naturally commanded a reputation far more resounding and benevolent than a Sword God who excelled only at taking them. Even renowned physicians like the Rogue Doctor Xia Liu and the Goddess Doctor Murong Jieyu were like mere apprentices before the divine medical skills of Immortal Doctor Lu Ran.
Moreover, Long Hao knew from his memories that Lu Ran's personality was gentle and righteous. He wasn't a ruthless schemer like Han Qi or an aloof, terrifying enigma like Sword God Ye Linyuan. Lu Ran was approachable, kind—the perfect investment.
The consultation fees for the wealthy and powerful who sought his help started at a hundred million Yuan, with no upper limit. And the most legendary part? If a potential patient had a stained reputation or was known for their wickedness, Lu Ran wouldn't treat them, no matter how many mountains of gold they offered.
Long Hao remembered the infamous tycoon Cao Wang, a man whose wealth was matched only by his cruelty. Stricken with a terminal illness, Cao Wang had desperately offered ten billion Yuan for Lu Ran to save his life. Lu Ran, having heard of the man's evil deeds, refused without a second thought.
Consumed by rage and desperation, Cao Wang had his men kidnap the Immortal Doctor, attempting to force his hand. The outcome, however, had shocked the world. It turned out that besides his peerless medical skills, Lu Ran possessed terrifyingly formidable martial arts. He single-handedly defeated the squadron of elite bodyguards Cao Wang had sent, crippling them without killing them.
It was only then, after he'd been forced to make a move, that the world realized the gentle doctor was also a grandmaster of combat. Some even whispered that he was a master of mystic arts, a true cultivator.
Unfathomable!
Yet, this master of both medicine and martial arts wouldn't charge a single Yuan when treating the poor and destitute. He would sometimes even pay for their prescriptions and living expenses out of his own pocket.
Two and a half years from now, Immortal Doctor Lu Ran's prestige would reach an unimaginable height. He was, in the eyes of the public, a living immortal walking the earth. People built shrines and temples in his name, burning incense and praying for his well-being. Even Long Hao, a shut-in who spent his days gaming and watching videos, had been constantly bombarded with news of his miraculous deeds.
'If I invest in Immortal Doctor Lu Ran now, while he's still unknown, I'll take off like a rocket!' Long Hao's heart pounded in his chest. 'At that time, Shen Anyu… hmph! I'll repay the hatred and humiliation you dealt me today a hundred times over!'
A venomous grin spread across his face as he envisioned Shen Anyu groveling at his feet. Then, another memory sparked in his mind, and his eyes lit up with even greater fervor.
"I remember! Immortal Doctor Lu Ran is currently setting up a humble stall on Magic City's Antique Street, keeping an extremely low profile. That street is a nest of hidden dragons! Besides Lu Ran, there's also the grand Celestial Master Chen Tianji!"
'What if… what if I can invest in both of them at once? Two future titans! How unbelievably awesome would that be?!'
The thought was intoxicating. Without another moment's hesitation, Long Hao, filled with a heady mix of excitement and ambition, rushed out of his apartment and hailed a taxi, shouting the destination: "Magic City Antique Street!"
What Long Hao, in his feverish excitement, failed to notice was the discreet, black Rolls-Royce Phantom that pulled out from a side street a few hundred meters behind him, maintaining a steady, unhurried distance.
"Immortal Doctor Lu Ran?"
In the silent, opulent backseat of the Rolls-Royce, Shen Anyu watched the taxi's progress on a sleek, integrated tablet. A flicker of genuine interest sparked in his deep, dark eyes. A future figure who could earn such high praise from a reborn protagonist, someone Long Hao even compared to the Sword God Ye Linyuan, had to be a Son of Destiny. And very likely, not an ordinary one. This was a target whose destiny value was at least five million, perhaps even more.
And destiny value was precisely what Shen Anyu was lacking at the moment.
'If I had enough,' he mused, a finger tracing the outline of Long Hao's taxi on the screen, 'I could simply devour his Investment Return System right now. Of course, playing the long game is more entertaining.'
With sufficient points, the initiative would be completely, unequivocally in his hands. Not that it wasn't already. Long Hao's every move, every word, every excited breath was being monitored. The nanometer-sized robotic drone hovering near the man was a marvel of technology, completely invisible and undetectable.
If Long Hao knew he was nothing more than an actor on a stage, with his script being read by the man he despised most, he would probably be scared witless.
As for Celestial Master Chen Tianji?
A faint, mocking smile touched Shen Anyu's lips. That old fortune-teller had already died completely. In fact, he had perished even earlier than the War God Ye Yan or the Dragon King Han Qi had been dealt with. The Tianji Ancient Jade that was Chen Tianji's core treasure had long been integrated by Shen Anyu into his Tianji Observation Technique, elevating its power to a new level.
"Rebirth should happen early," Shen Anyu murmured to the empty, leather-scented air of his car. "If you're reborn too late, you can only drink the northwest wind."
He watched the live feed of Long Hao, whose face was practically glowing with excitement and anticipation, and his smile widened. The little mouse was leading him right to a new piece of cheese.
...
Magic City Antique Street.
The street itself was not long, only seven or eight hundred meters from end to end. The ground was paved with imitation bluestone bricks, worn smooth by countless footsteps. On both sides stood shops with carved wooden facades, selling everything from dusty antiques and lustrous jade articles to fortune-telling services and calligraphy scrolls. The entire street exuded an antique, charming atmosphere.
If one could ignore the hum of air conditioners, the glare of smartphones, and the modern clothing of the bustling crowds, they might mistakenly believe they had stepped back in time.
At the rear entrance of the street, a large open space served as a marketplace for various stalls. After all, securing a permanent shop in a prime location like this was no easy feat. Even renting a small patch of ground for a stall cost over a hundred thousand Yuan annually. Those who tried to set up shop without paying the fee would quickly find themselves harassed by local troublemakers, making it impossible to do business.
Long Hao had the taxi driver stop at this rear entrance. He paid the fare, hopped out, and strode directly into the bustling stall area, his purpose clear and his steps confident.
'First, find Immortal Doctor Lu Ran. Then, find Celestial Master Chen Tianji,' Long Hao planned, a smile he couldn't suppress plastered on his face.
The beginning of his rise was today. This very street, this very moment!
'Shen Anyu, you just wait and see…'
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