Summit

Over the next six months, sales of Cloud Sea Technology's head-mounted displays continued to rise, and the number of online users in the Home game steadily increased.

Reaching seven million online users is just the beginning.

With the help of global capital, the number of online users has been rising steadily.

Ten million, fifteen million.

By the end of the year, the peak number of concurrent online users reached a new milestone: 20 million.

This is not just twenty million in the simple sense, but twenty million people simultaneously in a virtual world. Twenty million people is enough to form an incredibly large social system in the game.

Rich, middle-class, lower-class, manual laborers, those seeking enjoyment, those addicted to competitive games... all sorts of gaming organizations, large and small, have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

No matter how many game organizations or players there are, they all share one commonality with Zhang Yang.

That's the average number of paying users per user.

Every player survives in their Home, and from basic daily food to various other expenses, large and small, they generate a continuous flow of income, creating wealth for Zhang Yang.

For him now, income can truly be counted in seconds.

His wealth has become a vast ocean.

··

Cloud Sea Technology is not yet listed, but one of Zhang Yang's companies, after so many years of development, has finally embarked on the path to listing.

That's Soup King Hotpot.

As a company under his Cloud Sea Group, with the support of Cloud Sea Group's super capital, all expansion is not a problem. At present, Soup King Hotpot has more than 1,000 stores nationwide and nearly 500 stores in countries around the world.

At the end of the year, Soup King Hotpot officially embarked on its journey to list in Hong Kong.

Zhang Yang personally attended the bell-ringing ceremony for the launch of Soup King Hotpot.

Today, Soup King Hotpot covers cities of all sizes across the country. It is one of the two giants in the hot pot industry and a behemoth in the domestic catering industry. More importantly, it is backed by the Cloud Sea Group, and its number one shareholder is Zhang Yang, the soul of the Cloud Sea Group.

With so many positive factors, Soup King Hotpot's market value soared to HK$150 billion as soon as it went public.

It's simply a miracle.

But for Zhang Yang, this was just an appetizer.

Yes, the listing of Soup King Hotpot is just a small trial run for it in the Hong Kong stock market; the real highlight is yet to come.

Deep Water Bay Road, Hong Kong Island.

Li Superman's mansion.

Rooftop terrace.

Zhang Yang chatted and laughed with several bigwigs who have dominated Hong Kong Island for decades, discussing the next century.

"Come, Mr. Zhang, please." The energetic Li Superman personally served tea.

"Thank you, Li Superman," Zhang Yang said politely.

"Compared to Zhang Sheng, what kind of superman am I?" Li Superman shook his head and smiled. "Zhang Sheng's reputation is renowned worldwide, and he has led the next era. We can't compare to him."

The others nearby nodded in agreement.

They were well aware of the young man's abilities; in a way, they seemed to be on equal footing now.

But in reality... the strength of the person in front of them far surpasses that of the others.

Even if they were all combined, they could only look up to him.

Putting aside other things, just this catering company that recently listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has a market value of over 100 billion, not to mention its numerous industries at home and abroad, spanning real economy, new energy, investment, biomedicine, mining, and even private military contracting.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as having extraordinary abilities.

Beyond all of the above, Cloud Sea Technology, which he controls, is the real super-enterprise that is stirring up the global technology industry.

Once it goes public, it will undoubtedly become another legend!

"Actually, my business dealings with Mr. Zhang have been intertwined for some time," a wealthy man standing nearby chuckled. "My shipping company's security is handled by your Honey Badger Security, Mr. Zhang. I've met your people once; their professionalism is truly admirable."

"You flatter me... We still have a way to go to catch up with the top security companies, but we are working hard," Zhang Yang said modestly.

Today, Honey Badger Security is the largest private military contractor in Africa and has now joined the ranks of the world's top military contractors.

As for the gap between them and the top military contractors, there is one, but we have to look at it objectively. After all, those security companies are backed by some of the world's most influential philanthropists.

It's normal that it can't compare.

The group drank tea, chatted, and leisurely admired the distant coastal tides; time flew by in the blink of an eye.

Before parting, Li Superman suddenly said something with deep emotion.

"The world belongs to you, and to us, but ultimately it belongs to you... Zhang Sheng, I wish you success in advance."

The success that Li Superman speaks of is certainly not success in the simplest sense. Because in terms of pure success, Zhang Yang has already succeeded countless times. The success that Li Superman speaks of refers specifically to that kind of success.

Cloud Sea Technology, reaching the top of the world.

It would be a real shame if companies that change the world and disrupt technology like this didn't reach the top.

There's no reason it shouldn't succeed.

Zhang Yang shook Li Superman's hand and nodded.

The old man and the young man exchanged a glance, and everything was understood without a word.

That day, major financial magazines in Hong Kong Island reported the news.

[The head of the Cloud Sea Group visits Deep Water Bay; Cloud Sea Technology suspected of planning a Hong Kong IPO]

Immediately, all sorts of news came in.

The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.

··

Later, Cloud Sea Technology publicly announced its plan to list in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Island was shaken.

Because Cloud Sea Technology is so special, once it goes public in Hong Kong, it is very likely to create a miracle, set a record, and become the largest IPO in the history of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or even the world.

During its IPO preparations, Cloud Sea Technology did not stagnate; instead, it forged ahead like the surging tide of the times.

Sales have been steadily increasing, consistently showing a linear upward trend.

The number of concurrent online users in Home continues to break records, making it the online game with the highest number of concurrent users in human history... Or to put it another way, it's not an online game at all, but another world, a spiritual Home for all of humanity.

Many people believe that perhaps only Cloud Sea Technology itself can surpass it.

In the same year, Cloud Sea Technology finally launched its IPO.

Amidst global attention, Cloud Sea Technology officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

On the day of its listing, Cloud Sea Technology's stock price soared.

With investors, shareholders, and countless citizens receiving numerous positive news reports, Cloud Sea Technology's total market capitalization has been pushed to nearly HK$10 trillion.

Since then, it has become one of the top ten of the world's top 100 listed companies by market capitalization.

This marks the official addition of a global giant to the list.

In the same year, Forbes released its annual list of the world's richest people, and the title of the world's richest person changed hands. Unsurprisingly, the cover story of Time Magazine went to the new world's richest person.

Everyone remembered the figure on the cover, the figure who changed the world.

Zhang Yang

··

Zhang Yang went into seclusion for a period of time.

They built a hut and lived in a secluded mountain forest, unknown to anyone.

Of course, he wouldn't deliberately make things difficult for himself. Although it was a residence deep in the mountains, it was built with a lot of money, like a secluded paradise.

Watching the sunrise and sunset every day, breathing in the wind and drinking the dew, they are just like immortals living in seclusion on earth. Thinking about it, it makes sense. People living in the mountains are immortals. If there really are any true immortals on land in the world.

That's roughly what he's like...

As for whether there is any danger in the deep mountains and forests.

Just kidding.

What are wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards? He's already being kind by not causing them trouble, so how could they possibly dare to come looking for him?

Animals' sixth sense is far more sensitive than humans'. Since Zhang Yang went into seclusion here, he has not seen any large animals. He only sees wild rabbits and birds every day.

"It'll be soon."

Zhang Yang sat atop the mountain, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. The mountain mist in front of him seemed to be instantly cleaved in two by a sharp sword.

In the distance, rosy clouds and morning glow drift by.

Although he was in the mountains, he heard everything that happened outside.

As for the companies, they were also remotely controlled by him.

Since its listing, Cloud Sea Technology's stock price has soared, and its total market value of HK$10 trillion is not the end, but just the beginning.

One month after its initial public offering, Cloud Sea Technology released another major product.

Holographic portable projection device.

These future products, once released, have once again caused a global sensation.

In everyone's eyes, Cloud Sea Technology is synonymous with the future.

From then on, Cloud Sea Technology's stock price soared again, with its total market value heading straight for HK$20 trillion. It was clear to everyone that the world's number one spot would sooner or later belong to it.

Everything can be left to time.

··

Six months later, Cloud Sea Technology officially became the world's number one in market capitalization.

This position is well-deserved.

After all, if companies that represent the future and lead the times don't become number one in the world, are they going to give that position to those companies that have market value but are stagnant?

And on a mountaintop somewhere.

Zhang Yang suddenly opened his eyes.

"Good, good, good! All my hard work over the years has finally paid off... I can finally... reach the top in one step and bring this chapter to a proper close!"

Years ago, he lived life to the fullest, but after a long period of leisure, he wanted to find something to do. In recent years, however, he has been too busy, so busy that he has hardly any time for himself.

The period of seclusion in the mountains after the company went public was the most leisurely and secluded time he had experienced since founding Cloud Sea Technology.

And now, he should delve deeper into the mortal world.

After all, so many people are waiting for his return.

"Oh right, something I've been looking forward to for a long time," Zhang Yang muttered to himself.

Then, he turned his hand over.

The golden potion was now in my hands.

This is the reward for having the world's number one market capitalization: an advanced gene serum.

The intermediate-level gene serum extended his lifespan to two hundred years, making his body able to withstand bullets and achieving true human perfection. This advanced-level serum, however, would allow him to completely surpass humanity, further increasing his lifespan to an unimaginable level.

As for the actual effect...

To be honest, he couldn't say for sure right now; everything would only be known after he took the medicine.

Zhang Yang examined the potion in his hand, thought for a moment, and then, without further hesitation, tilted his head back and swallowed the entire advanced gene potion.

Then he sat down quietly and closed his eyes.

All around was completely silent.

Even the sounds of insects chirping and birds singing vanished in an instant.

Every second.

One hour at a time.

Zhang Yang sat there from late at night until the sun rose and the sky was ablaze with light.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes.

In that instant, it was as if an incomparably dazzling stream of light flashed and disappeared from his eyes.

The next second, Zhang Yang leaped into the air and disappeared into the distant forest.

Suddenly, birds and beasts stirred in the lush and robust forest, trees collapsed, leaving only a figure that leaped across the trees with the speed of a flick of a finger, accompanied by a sharp shriek and a long laugh.

"That was so satisfying!" Zhang Yang laughed.

It's a feeling that's hard to describe.

Unlike the excruciating pain he experienced when taking gene-enhancing drugs in the past, this change felt as if an invisible shackle had been completely removed from his body.

Lightness, as if it were the lightness deep within the soul.

Not only did he feel light deep in his soul, but this was not just an illusion. Putting everything else aside, just a simple jump right now, in the light breeze, felt like a feather soaring over towering trees, as if gravity had lessened its hold on him.

"This is what it means to transcend the Three Realms and be outside the Five Elements," Zhang Yang thought to himself.

It's not that he's truly transcended the Three Realms, but rather that he has achieved a genuine detachment from worldly affairs, seemingly having completely abandoned his human identity.

He is human, yet not human in the traditional sense.

In the West, he's called a superman.

In the East...

Zhang Yang didn't even know what he was called now.

As he savored the experience, he felt the life force within him circulating endlessly, and a sense of enlightenment arose within him.

In terms of lifespan, he estimates he could live to be seven or eight hundred years old right now. In a cultivation novel, such a being would at least be given the title of a Golden Core Ancestor.

He certainly didn't have the ability to fly through the air and travel hundreds of miles like the Golden Core Ancestor, but he had his own unique abilities.

Lifespan is another matter.

Although he couldn't fly, he could easily leap several meters away with a light jump, seemingly defying gravity.

Mental pressure—this was a new ability he had come to understand.

He now seems a million times more powerful than the world's most powerful hypnotists; a casual remark or a glance can instantly put someone to sleep.

He may not be able to defeat a thousand troops, but he can move through them as if they were nothing.

Then there's the absolute power of the body.

Now, he can uproot a willow tree with one arm, and his physical strength can withstand bullets from submachine guns at close range.

In American comics, wouldn't that be an early version of Superman?

"These..." Zhang Yang looked back at the large swathe of fallen trees behind him, feeling a little ashamed.

He then arranged for people to restore the forest environment he had damaged.

His strength has leaped forward again, which is certainly cause for celebration, but it shouldn't come at the cost of destroying vegetation, right?

"It's time to go back."

He chuckled, then flew back to the mountaintop, intending to make some preparations before returning to the mortal world.

This time, career comes second, life comes first.

As for the new technologies that far surpass the times that he acquires every year, whether he arranges for someone to digest them or stores them up, he is now incredibly wealthy and doesn't need to do everything himself; he can just take it slow.

In any case, he has an endless, long lifespan to witness the future.