Luo Family Increases Its Investment

Hearing the notification, Luo Chengfeng briefly wondered if he had misheard and deliberately checked the data.

"Good lad, I knew I hadn't misjudged you." Luo Chengfeng was overjoyed and rose directly to his feet in front of everyone.

"Fifteenth, back when I wanted to improve Yang Fan's terms, you disagreed. What do you have to say now?"

Luo Chengfeng pointed at the elder seated beside him and demanded an answer.

The terms Yang Fan had signed with the Luo Family had indeed surpassed those of ordinary Second-Grade Geniuses. Luo Chengfeng had made that decision despite the opposition.

Quite a few people had opposed it at the time, but considering his granddaughter Luo Rou's situation, they had given him some face.

Now, it seemed that decision had brought the Luo Family a true genius.

After ordinary people without resources received investment from major families, their strength would experience an explosive surge in the short term. The greater the increase, the greater the Divine Kingdom's potential for development.

It had only been two months since the Luo Family signed an investment contract with Yang Fan. His Divine Kingdom had developed for roughly sixty years, yet he had reached 80th place in the simulated battle rankings. He was indeed a dark horse worth noting.

"He is indeed impressive. I watched the recording of Yang County No. 1 High School's exam back then. It seems we underestimated his potential."

"If I remember correctly, the family only gave him an initial investment of one hundred million, plus a B-rank building. Could his strength really have improved this much? Chengfeng, you didn't give him the Immortal-Nurturing Tower from your own Divine Kingdom, did you?" Another elder looked suspicious.

Luo Chengfeng spat. "Do you think I'm an idiot? The Immortal-Nurturing Tower is my core building, the foundation of my survival. He's my granddaughter's husband, not my ancestor."

Hearing that, the elder who had spoken earlier found it reasonable and awkwardly waved his hand.

That was true. Core buildings within a Divine Kingdom were far too important. Unless one's lifespan was nearing its end, they would not be given away even to one's own children, much less an outsider.

"Everyone, although Yang Fan does not bear our surname, he can now be considered part of the Luo Family. Moreover, my granddaughter is already pregnant. I believe the Luo Family can increase its investment."

Yang Fan was his own granddaughter's husband. Since he had talent, Luo Chengfeng naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to secure more investment for him.

This was a family council meeting, and the Artificial Lifeform had happened to broadcast the news. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"What does Elder Chengfeng suggest?" Luo Hai, the Luo Family head seated at the head of the table, asked.

"Given Yang Fan's rate of progress, he is no less capable than a First-Grade Genius. The family can establish another First-Grade Genius slot." Luo Chengfeng took a deep breath.

"Damn it, Luo Chengfeng, you're shameless. Based on Yang Fan's current performance, he's still leagues away from being a First-Grade Genius. He may be your son-in-law, but you can't favor him this much."

"That's right. First-Grade Geniuses are a serious matter. Each one requires strategic resources. Forget whether the potential he has shown is sufficient—just the fact that his surname is Yang means he doesn't qualify."

"This is ridiculous. The family head asked for your opinion, not for you to daydream!"

The Luo Family Gods present all began voicing their complaints.

The family only had so many resources. Adding another First-Grade Genius meant reducing everyone else's share, so naturally they were unwilling.

"Enough, Elder Chengfeng. We've known each other for thousands of years, so stop playing that game of asking an outrageous price and bargaining down from there. Yang Fan's performance is indeed good. Allocate five hundred million Faith Points to him from the family accounts. If he performs even more brilliantly in the future, the Luo Family will naturally increase its investment.

"The family needs fresh blood. Even if he does not bear the Luo surname, as long as he shows sufficient value, we will not be stingy." Luo Hai announced his decision.

Upon hearing this, Luo Chengfeng sat back down, though he could not suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.

"A five-hundred-million investment will be enough for the lad to develop for quite a while." Luo Chengfeng was in an excellent mood.

Luo Hai continued, "Back to business. The family has gained quite a lot from this reclamation expedition. Let us discuss how to distribute the resources."

At those words, every elder present turned serious.

The new resource sites involved substantial interests. That was the true purpose of today's meeting. A genius who was still merely a Divine Lifeform was not yet worth too much attention from these Gods.

After receiving the Luo Family's resource reward, Yang Fan had been browsing the marketplace and Gods' Forum, studying what his Divine Kingdom currently needed most.

Recently, Luo Rou had frequently gone to the hospital for prenatal checkups with her mother, Sun Rong. Although her physical condition had not improved, her spirits had clearly become much better, perhaps because she now had hope for the future.

Luo Rou pushed open the door and said anxiously, "Husband, Grandpa wants us to go to the Luo Family Headquarters in the Virtual World and see him together."

"Alright."

Yang Fan nodded, took out a helmet from the bedside cabinet, and helped Luo Rou put it on first. Then, their consciousnesses entered the Virtual World together.

"I'll have Grandpa send me the coordinates, then we can go directly to his studio," Luo Rou said.

Ever since her Divine Kingdom had been damaged, Luo Rou had rarely entered the Virtual World, much less visited the Luo Family Headquarters, lest she run into people she knew before.

Now she was practically useless. If she encountered an acquaintance, she would not even dare go up and greet them, only adding to the awkwardness.

Using the coordinates, Yang Fan and Luo Rou transmitted directly to Luo Chengfeng's side.

"Little Yang, you've truly given this old man a tremendous surprise. At today's family council meeting, those old fellows were looking at me with pure envy." Luo Chengfeng laughed heartily.

Luo Rou was somewhat bewildered. She had no idea what her husband had done to make her grandfather so happy.

Luo Rou looked at Yang Fan with confusion, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

Looking at his own granddaughter, Luo Chengfeng could not help sighing inwardly. If Luo Rou's Divine Kingdom had not been damaged, the two truly would have been a match made in heaven.

"May I ask what Grandpa is referring to?" Yang Fan had some guesses, but he was not certain.

"You brat, you still don't know what an incredible thing you've done, do you? You joined the Luo Family less than three months ago, yet your Divine Kingdom's family ranking in simulated battles has already risen to 80th place. Even I misjudged you." Luo Chengfeng's face was full of satisfaction.

Upon hearing this, Luo Rou's eyes filled with shock.

"E-Eightieth place!"

As a direct descendant of the Luo Family, Luo Rou knew better than anyone how valuable the family simulated battle rankings were.

Before her college entrance exam, she had only barely squeezed into the top one hundred. Yet her husband had already surpassed her best result.

The midterm exam of their senior year had not even begun yet. The gap between them was obvious.

Luo Chengfeng continued, "Alright, your timing for participating in the Divine Kingdom simulated battle was good. The family's Artificial Lifeform publicly broadcast the news, and even the family head remembered your name. This time, I secured a direct investment of five hundred million Faith Points for you. The family head has already signed off on it. Your Divine Kingdom will receive it shortly."

"Thank you, Grandpa." Yang Fan was overjoyed.

This was the benefit of having someone backing him. Without a First-Order God like Luo Chengfeng behind him, the Luo Family would not necessarily have gone out of its way to give him such a large reward.

After all, his surname was Yang, not Luo.