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Chapter 167

After tidying up the laboratory, Su Hao took a quick flight outside to make sure nothing was left unattended. Satisfied with the situation, he swiftly returned to Temple Forest City.

After circling over Temple Forest City for a while, he noticed no significant changes and decided to land at the research base.

As soon as he landed, he saw Yashan, his face full of exhaustion.

Evidently, Yashan had also noticed Su Hao’s return and had hurried from the Ninth Floor to greet him.

The moment Yashan saw Su Hao, he immediately roared with joy, “Boss Wei! You’re finally back! We’ve been eagerly waiting for your return…”

Seeing Yashan almost about to jump on him, Su Hao quickly stepped back and said, “Yashan, calm down a bit. I’ve only been gone for a while. What happened to you? You’ve made yourself look like this?”

Yashan helplessly replied, “I didn’t want this either, Boss Wei. After you left, it seems like things escalated quickly, and I couldn’t keep up. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in this whole year.”

Su Hao immediately understood Yashan’s situation.

While Boss Wei had been in the city, serving as Yashan’s backup, Temple Forest City faced no real threats. Yashan could handle matters confidently, knowing that Boss Wei had his back. However, with Boss Wei’s absence, this support disappeared, making Yashan anxious and cautious in managing affairs, fearing potential issues that could lead to a downfall.

In a way, it was a shift from an employee mentality to that of a business owner.

Su Hao just smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Yashan. You’ll get used to it.”

Yashan quickly asked, “Boss Wei, are you planning to leave Temple Forest City again?”

Su Hao replied, “I won’t be leaving for a while. I have some tasks that require assistance from the ‘Temple Forest Society.'”

Yashan breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s great! We feel much safer when you’re here, Boss Wei.”

Su Hao headed to his laboratory, saying, “Come with me, Yashan. Let’s discuss the events in Temple Forest City over the past year. Any concerns or questions you have, let’s address them. I’ll provide guidance.”

Yashan followed and said, “Sure, Boss Wei!”

Su Hao pushed open the laboratory door, revealing a clean and well-maintained space that seemed to have daily care.

Over the next three hours, Su Hao listened to Yashan’s questions and management challenges. He provided detailed answers and organized the information to create an action plan for the future.

Su Hao said, “Execute according to this plan, Yashan. Remember, the ‘Temple Forest Society’ has become a formal organization now. ‘Results’ always come before ‘relationships.’ Don’t let personal connections affect your decision-making. No matter how close you are to someone, if they don’t deliver results, handle it as necessary. Be tough and eliminate these detrimental practices.”

Yashan vigorously nodded and said, “You can trust me, Boss Wei. I understand. I’ll eliminate those parasites that have been festering.”

Su Hao added, “Yashan, I need your help in collecting a large number of animals with various patterns and colors, regardless of species. The more, the better; even insects will do. I need them for my upcoming experiments.”

Yashan looked around and suggested, “Boss Wei, this base might not be large enough. Should I find a new location for you? I can designate a large area in the north of the city, and it can be ready in just a month!”

Su Hao considered this and nodded, “Let’s change the location and expand the research base.”

Yashan asked, “Do you have any specific requirements for the new base?”

Su Hao replied, “I’ll provide you with a rough design later, indicating my requirements. You can follow that.”

Yashan agreed, “Understood, Boss Wei.”

Over the next two to three days, various peculiar creatures with colorful patterns were gradually delivered to Su Hao. Many of them were entirely unfamiliar to him.

And Su Hao, once again, immersed himself in his research.

One month later, Su Hao successfully moved into the new research base, a vast area resembling the luxurious estate of a super-rich individual.

But unlike other extravagant estates owned by wealthy individuals, Su Hao’s is a well-organized laboratory and breeding facility.

The research base was roughly designed according to Su Hao’s plans, and Yashan was very considerate in adding many small details.

Naturally, Yashan and his daughter, Taini, also moved in. According to Yashan’s perspective, regardless of how the “Temple Forest Society” is doing, the top priority is to ensure that Boss Wei has comfortable daily meals and someone to take care of his life.

Boss Wei comes first, followed by his daughter Taini, with the “Temple Forest Society” taking third place. This order must never be changed!

Taini has grown into a young lady and, in front of Boss Wei, has become more reserved, no longer as unrestrained as she was in her childhood.

After Su Hao moved to the research base, Taini naturally became his caregiver.

After years of learning, Taini had become a knowledgeable young lady. Her manners and temperament were significantly different from the vast majority of the Zhu Hua People.

This change in temperament was rooted in Taini’s way of thinking, which had fundamentally evolved from the previous “instinctual stage” to the “awareness of causes.”

From the perspective of her thinking level, she had surpassed most of the Zhu Hua People.

In other words, Taini had learned to think critically.

Zhu Hua People were not unintelligent, but their strong genetic makeup made their thinking highly susceptible to instinctual influences.

This brings up another dialectical principle – the difference between “IQ” and “wisdom.”

It can be said that the Zhu Hua People possessed “IQ” but lacked the cultural heritage of “wisdom” in Su Hao’s view.

Two months later, a type of beetle called the “Ringstar Beetle” that Yashan had sent caught Su Hao’s attention.

This beetle had a circular pattern on its forehead shell, and when Su Hao first saw it, he almost mistook it for a “super insect” with a built-in runic array.

Discovering this insect filled Su Hao with joy. He immediately collected the genetic information of this beetle and sorted it for classification.

After some research, he called for Yashan, saying, “Yashan, quickly send someone to help me find more of these ‘Ringstar’ beetles. The faster, the better, and the more, the better. Other creatures can wait for now.”

If all went as planned, Su Hao would find a breakthrough in the “Runic Array Gene” on these “Ringstar Beetles.”

Yashan hadn’t seen the desire in Boss Wei’s eyes for a long time, so he hurried to the “Ninth Floor” building of the “Temple Forest Society,” calling together the elite members.

Infected by Su Hao’s enthusiasm, Yashan stood on the stage, looking at the densely packed crowd below and delivered an impassioned speech, “Brothers, the great moment for our ‘Temple Forest Society’ has arrived… The activity will last for three days. Within these three days, for every hundred you catch, you can choose one ‘Level 1’ runic card. For every five hundred, you can choose one ‘Level 2’ runic card! Catch five thousand, and you’ll be directly rewarded with a one-level evolution.”

Yashan’s mobilization meeting was highly successful.

Soon, members of the “Temple Forest Society” collectively ventured outside the city to hunt down their targets.

In just three days, the “Ringstar Beetles” within a radius of a hundred miles outside Temple Forest City were ruthlessly captured without leaving a single one behind.

The scene was extremely brutal!

Su Hao was overjoyed!

(End of this chapter)

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  1. Offline
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    Chapter 167 – The Ringstar Beetle

    After tidying up the laboratory and making one final inspection to ensure nothing had been left behind, Su Hao took to the skies.

    Flying at high speed, he soon returned to Temple Forest City.

    Hovering above the city for a short while, he carefully observed the changes below. Satisfied that everything appeared stable, he descended toward the research base.

    The moment he landed, he saw Yashan rushing toward him.

    Yashan's face was lined with exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot from obvious lack of sleep. It was clear he had come straight from the Ninth Floor building after learning of Su Hao's return.

    The instant he arrived, Yashan's face lit up with joy.

    "Boss Wei!"

    "You're finally back!"

    "We've been waiting for you..."

    Seeing Yashan looking as though he was about to throw himself into a hug, Su Hao immediately took a step back.

    "Calm down."

    "I've only been gone for a year."

    "What happened to you?"

    "You look terrible."

    Yashan gave a bitter smile.

    "I didn't want to end up like this either, Boss Wei."

    "But after you left, everything seemed to pile up at once."

    "I've barely slept properly this entire year."

    Su Hao instantly understood.

    While he had remained in Temple Forest City, Yashan always had someone to rely on.

    No matter what problem arose, Boss Wei stood behind him.

    Even if something went terribly wrong, Su Hao would solve it.

    But once that support disappeared, Yashan suddenly became the one carrying the entire burden.

    Every decision felt dangerous.

    Every mistake seemed capable of destroying everything they had built.

    It was the difference between working for someone...

    ...and becoming the person responsible for everything.

    Su Hao smiled.

    "You'll get used to it."

    Yashan hesitated before asking,

    "Boss Wei..."

    "Are you leaving again?"

    "For now, no."

    "I still have several projects that require the assistance of the Temple Forest Association."

    Only then did Yashan finally let out a long breath.

    "That's wonderful."

    "As long as you're here, everyone feels much more at ease."


    ---

    Su Hao walked toward the laboratory.

    "Come with me."

    "Tell me everything that happened during the past year."

    "If there are any problems, we'll solve them together."

    Yashan immediately followed behind him.

    "Yes, Boss Wei."


    ---

    The laboratory was spotless.

    Everything inside had obviously been cleaned and maintained every single day during Su Hao's absence.

    For the next three hours, Yashan carefully explained every major event that had occurred within the Temple Forest Association.

    Whenever he encountered a problem he couldn't resolve, Su Hao patiently analyzed it and proposed a solution.

    By the end of their discussion, they had organized an entirely new management plan.

    Looking at the completed outline, Su Hao spoke seriously.

    "Remember this."

    "The Temple Forest Association is no longer a small group."

    "It is now a true organization."

    "In an organization..."

    "Results always come before relationships."

    "No matter how close someone is to you, if they fail to produce results or violate the rules, deal with them according to the regulations."

    "Don't allow personal feelings to interfere with your judgment."

    Yashan nodded firmly.

    "I understand."

    "I'll clean out every parasite that's been taking advantage of the Association."

    Su Hao nodded approvingly.

    Then he changed the subject.

    "I need your help with something else."

    "I want you to collect as many animals as possible."

    "The species doesn't matter."

    "Birds, beasts, insects..."

    "The more unusual their colors and patterns, the better."

    "I need them for my research."

    Yashan looked around the laboratory before speaking.

    "Boss Wei..."

    "This place is becoming too small."

    "Should I build you a new research base?"

    "I can reserve a large area north of the city."

    "It'll be finished within a month."

    Su Hao thought for a moment before nodding.

    "Good."

    "We'll expand."

    "I'll draw the basic layout later."

    "You can construct the rest according to the plan."

    "No problem."

    Yashan immediately accepted the task.


    ---

    Over the next several days, countless strange animals from across the surrounding region were delivered to Su Hao.

    Many of them were species he had never seen before.

    Once again, he immersed himself completely in research.


    ---

    A month later, the new research base was completed.

    The enormous estate rivaled the residences of the wealthiest nobles.

    However, unlike luxurious mansions built for pleasure, every building inside this estate served a purpose.

    Laboratories.

    Breeding facilities.

    Storage rooms.

    Experimental chambers.

    Everything had been constructed according to Su Hao's designs.

    Yashan had even thoughtfully added many practical improvements that Su Hao hadn't considered.

    Naturally, Yashan and Taini also moved into the estate.

    To Yashan, the order of priorities had always been crystal clear.

    First...

    Boss Wei.

    Second...

    His daughter, Taini.

    Only after those two came the Temple Forest Association.

    That order would never change.


    ---

    Years had quietly passed.

    Taini had grown from a little girl into a graceful young woman.

    Unlike her lively childhood self, she had become noticeably more reserved whenever she stood before Su Hao.

    After moving into the research base, she naturally assumed responsibility for Su Hao's daily life.

    Through years of study, Taini had become one of the most educated people among the Zhu Hua People.

    Her temperament had changed completely.

    The greatest transformation wasn't her appearance...

    It was the way she thought.

    She no longer accepted everything instinctively.

    Instead, she had learned to question, analyze, and search for causes.

    She had learned to think.

    In Su Hao's eyes, this distinguished her from the vast majority of the Zhu Hua People.

    They were not lacking in intelligence.

    Rather...

    They lacked the accumulated wisdom that came from civilization.

    There was a profound difference between possessing intelligence...

    ...and possessing wisdom.


    ---

    Two months later, one particular insect caught Su Hao's attention.

    It was called the Ringstar Beetle.

    On the shell covering its forehead was a perfect circular marking.

    At first glance, it almost resembled a naturally formed rune.

    For a brief moment, Su Hao even wondered whether it possessed an innate runic array.

    His eyes immediately lit up.

    Without delay, he collected the beetle's genetic information and began classifying it inside the Marble Space.

    After several hours of research, excitement finally appeared on his face.

    He immediately called for Yashan.

    "Yashan."

    "I need more of these."

    "The Ringstar Beetles."

    "As many as possible."

    "The faster, the better."

    "Everything else can wait."

    "If my theory is correct..."

    "...these insects may become the breakthrough I've been searching for."


    ---

    Yashan hadn't seen Boss Wei this excited in years.

    Without wasting a single second, he rushed straight to the Ninth Floor building and gathered the elite members of the Temple Forest Association.

    Standing before the assembled crowd, he raised his voice.

    "Brothers!"

    "The greatest opportunity for our Association has arrived!"

    "The mission lasts three days."

    "For every 100 Ringstar Beetles you capture..."

    "You may choose one First-Tier Rune Card."

    "For every 500..."

    "You may choose one Second-Tier Rune Card."

    "And anyone who captures 5,000 Ringstar Beetles..."

    "...will immediately receive an opportunity to evolve by one level!"

    The crowd instantly erupted into excitement.

    The mobilization meeting was a complete success.

    Within moments, members of the Temple Forest Association poured out of Temple Forest City in every direction.

    For the next three days, they searched every mountain...

    Every forest...

    Every field...

    Every stream.

    The Ringstar Beetles living within a hundred-mile radius of Temple Forest City suffered complete devastation.

    Not a single one escaped.

    It was an utterly merciless hunt.

    And Su Hao...

    ...couldn't have been happier.

    (End of Chapter 167)
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  2. Offline
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    Poor beetles going extinct 😂
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