Arc 10The Thrower and the Drones

Xia Xu strengthened Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals, while his investigation into Yunfan Group’s canceled brain-control project led him to Pan Long and a deadly attack by armed drones. He sought Huichuang High-Tech’s help to counter the drones and pursue Duan Zhiyi’s technology.

  • Xia Xu persuaded Jiang Hai to sell his remaining shares in Tonghe Pharmaceuticals by revealing a valuable controlled-release technology, then turned the company into Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals and assigned Wu Hang to develop the tablets.
  • Xia Xu learned that Yunfan Group had abandoned its brainwave-control project and that board member Duan Zhiyi was trying to restart it, while news of Xia Xu and Tang Youxin’s exam results brought widespread attention to Xia’s business success.
  • After Dong Changhe was shot dead and attacks targeted his family, Xia Xu investigated at Nanya Hospital, where he found Dong Shasha and encountered Pan Long, the Thrower, as armed drones attacked them.
  • Xia Xu, A Tuo, and Pan Long destroyed the drones and escaped the hospital, while Xia Xu arranged to work with Pan Long and investigate his connections to the attacks and Duan Zhiyi.
  • Xia Xu visited Pan Long’s warehouse, learned about his superhero investigations and Vector Addition ability, and took him to seek technology that could counter the drones.
  • At Huichuang High-Tech, Xia Xu explained to owner Zhou Xiaodong that he needed help countering Duan Zhiyi’s armed drones.
Chapters 227–251 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 227Chapter 227

Xia Xu learned that Star Sea Venture Capital had acquired eighty percent of Tonghe Pharmaceuticals, but its boss, Jiang Hai, refused to sell the remaining shares. After meeting Jiang Hai, Xia Xu discovered that he was determined to finish developing a new drug to save a life, giving Xia Xu a way to resolve the impasse.

  • Xia Xu joked with Chen Leyao about breaking his rule against looking too beautiful at work, then asked about the company's progress.
  • Chen Leyao reported that Star Sea Venture Capital had acquired eighty percent of Tonghe Pharmaceuticals, while Jiang Hai held on to the remaining shares.
  • Xia Xu explained that he wanted full control of Tonghe Pharmaceuticals and asked Chen Leyao to arrange a meeting with Jiang Hai.
  • After meeting Jiang Hai, Xia Xu concluded that Jiang Hai needed the new drug to treat high blood pressure in himself or a family member, and Chen Leyao asked how he had figured it out.

Ch. 228A meeting with Jiang Hai

Xia Xu met with Jiang Hai to explain that Star Sea Venture Capital wanted Tonghe Pharmaceuticals for its research team, not Jiang Hai’s unfinished drug project. After Jiang Hai resisted, Xia Xu demonstrated his strength, leaving Jiang Hai intimidated and the meeting tense.

  • Xia Xu learned that Jiang Hai was driven by a desire to cure his mother and understood why Jiang Hai resented the takeover.
  • Xia Xu invited Jiang Hai to another meeting and said Star Sea Venture Capital could remove him or shut down the new drug project.
  • Jiang Hai argued that shutting down the project would ruin Tonghe Pharmaceuticals and waste Star Sea Venture Capital’s investment.
  • Xia Xu said he wanted Tonghe Pharmaceuticals’ research team for a sensitive study and threatened to shut down the project if Jiang Hai refused to sell.
  • Jiang Hai accused Xia Xu of backing him into a corner, and Xia Xu snapped a piece off the solid wood table with his bare hand.
  • Jiang Hai was stunned by Xia Xu’s strength, while Chen Leyao watched in surprise as the atmosphere turned oppressive.

Ch. 229Just kidding

Xia Xu negotiated with Jiang Hai over Star Sea Venture Capital’s investment in Tonghe Pharmaceuticals, using the promise of key drug technology and a controlled-release formulation to secure Jiang Hai’s cooperation. Jiang Hai accepted the share purchase agreement, and his affinity for Xia Xu rose to 70.

  • Xia Xu eased the tension by calling his earlier threat a joke, then exposed Jiang Hai’s personal reason for pursuing the antihypertensive drug.
  • Xia Xu had Chen Leyao show Jiang Hai a document describing the missing technology and a controlled-release formulation that could improve the drug and other treatments.
  • Jiang Hai recognized the technology’s value, and his affinity for Xia Xu rose to 60.
  • Xia Xu explained that Star Sea Venture Capital expected returns for its information advantage, and Jiang Hai accepted that the investment could benefit both sides.
  • Jiang Hai set aside his resentment and asked Chen Leyao to bring out the share purchase agreement, raising his affinity to 70.

Ch. 230Yunfan Group

After returning from De City, Xia Xu revealed the hidden technologies and threats of Blue Ocean Star to Chen Leyao, who ran his company. Chen Leyao then told him that a Yunfan Group shareholder was seeking investors to regain control of the company and revive its abandoned brainwave-control project.

  • After Xia Xu and Chen Leyao returned to the South Lake Building, she asked how he had broken off a piece of a solid wood tabletop.
  • Xia Xu explained that secret advanced technologies existed, showed Chen Leyao his Mechanical Centipede Spine, and told her about Beastmen and his mission to help the Official deal with them.
  • Chen Leyao said Yunfan Group had shifted its focus to autonomous driving and new energy vehicles while cutting development of concept-car technologies.
  • Chen Leyao told Xia Xu that Yunfan Group had scrapped its brainwave-control project and that a shareholder involved in it was seeking outside investors to retake control and restart the project.

Ch. 231Brainwave Control Technology

Xia Xu asked Chen Leyao to monitor Yunfan Group’s brainwave-control project while he focused on consolidating Tonghe Pharmaceuticals and developing Controlled-Release Tablet technology. After acquiring and reforming the company, he visited its research institute and launched his first pharmaceutical laboratory with a talented research team.

  • Xia Xu asked Chen Leyao to keep an eye on Yunfan Group and its brainwave-control project, despite doubting the shareholder’s claims about the technology.
  • Xia Xu temporarily took charge of Star Sea Venture Capital, while it acquired Tonghe Pharmaceuticals for over forty million and renamed it Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals.
  • Chen Leyao overhauled Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals, dismissing corrupt or unproductive employees and sharply improving the company’s efficiency.
  • Xia Xu left Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals in Jiang Hai’s hands and toured its research institute, where he discovered a strong research team with several talented specialists.
  • Xia Xu identified Wu Hang’s pharmaceutical formulation talent as a good fit for developing Controlled-Release Tablet technology and opened his first pharmaceutical laboratory.

Ch. 232Pigs and cabbages

Xia Xu advanced Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals’ drug and controlled-release research while anticipating Griffin Jones’s patent attack. After the Gaokao results came out, Xia Xu and Tang Youxin celebrated their scores together, leaving Tang Zhan to suspect that Xia Xu was courting his daughter.

  • Xia Xu assigned Wu Hang and a small team to develop controlled-release tablets, reassured the remaining researchers, and promised bonuses and overtime pay.
  • Jiang Hai obtained the missing patent for Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals’ blood pressure drug, and research moved into its final stages as Wu Hang’s team advanced the controlled-release technology.
  • Xia Xu realized Griffin Jones had invested in Yusen Pharmaceuticals to use its patent dispute to block Xinghai Biopharmaceuticals’ drug launch.
  • Tang Youxin invited Xia Xu to dinner after the Gaokao results were released, and Tang Zhan showed the neighbors her score of 749.
  • Xia Xu revealed that he had scored one point higher than Tang Youxin, then joked with a neighbor about matchmaking, while Tang Zhan noticed Tang Youxin secretly putting food in Xia Xu’s bowl.

Ch. 233Special Attack Attribute

On the day Xia Xu and Tang Youxin were supposed to submit their college preferences, Xia Xu took Tang Youxin shopping and dressed her in a white dress with twin tails before they went to school. A Tuo scared away a man who had been staring at her, and the group was left ready to continue on to the day’s school activities.

  • Xia Xu and Tang Youxin got up early for the day they were scheduled to submit their college preferences and take graduation photos.
  • Xia Xu took Tang Youxin to Xihe Plaza instead of going straight to school and persuaded her to buy new clothes with an advance on her wages.
  • Tang Youxin changed into a white dress, and Xia Xu took her to a hair salon to have her hair styled into twin tails.
  • Onlookers gathered to stare at Tang Youxin, so Xia Xu joked that he wanted A Tuo to chase them away.
  • A Tuo tore bark from a camphor tree while glaring at a middle-aged man, who was frightened and left.

Ch. 234Interview

Xia Xu and Tang Youxin arrived at school as the nation’s top Gaokao scorers and were swarmed by reporters. Xia Xu took control of the interview and began answering questions while shielding the shy Tang Youxin, leaving the reporters asking about their relationship.

  • Xia Xu and Tang Youxin saw the congratulatory banner and the reporters gathered outside their school.
  • Xia Xu tried to help Tang Youxin slip inside unnoticed, but reporters recognized them and crowded around.
  • Xia Xu protected Tang Youxin, asked reporters to blur their faces, and set a limit of three questions.
  • Xia Xu chose a familiar reporter, dismissed her question about his study methods, and joked that he was a genius.
  • Another reporter asked Xia Xu about his relationship with Tang Youxin and whether it was connected to their scores.

Ch. 235It Hurt. It Hurt So Much

After the Gaokao, Xia Xu and Tang Youxin returned to school, where their classmates discovered how beautiful she was and regretted overlooking her. After graduation celebrations, Xia Xu brought Tang Youxin home and teased Tang Zhan about protecting her, prompting him to challenge Xia Xu's assumption that he would become part of the Tang family.

  • Xia Xu escorted Tang Youxin into school, where classmates were stunned by her appearance and regretted not noticing her before.
  • After completing their university preferences and graduation activities, Xia Xu avoided getting drunk while his classmates drank heavily and tried to make him join in.
  • Xia Xu arranged rides for the teachers and students, then headed home with Tang Youxin and A Tuo.
  • At Luogu Alley, Xia Xu found Tang Zhan waiting for Tang Youxin and joked that he could protect her from danger and bad boys.
  • Tang Zhan acknowledged Xia Xu's many strengths, then asked whether he had already decided to become the Tang family's son-in-law.

Ch. 236Trending again

After Xia Xu and Tang Youxin’s perfect Gaokao scores went viral, online discussions focused on their earlier interview and whether they were a couple. A popular creator then examined Xia Xu’s past claims about owning a company and suggested he had been telling the truth, leaving his business ties under scrutiny.

  • Xia Xu returned to his rented room and fell asleep while news coverage of his and Tang Youxin’s scores spread.
  • The Provincial TV Station uploaded Xia Xu’s new interview, and viewers connected him and Tang Youxin to their earlier interview and celebrated their scores online.
  • Online commenters mocked people who had previously accused Xia Xu and Tang Youxin of bragging, while speculating about their relationship.
  • A popular video creator revisited Xia Xu’s earlier interview and questioned whether his claims about running a company were true.
  • The creator pointed to Xia Xu’s mention of notifying his legal affairs staff and concluded that he likely controlled or was closely connected to a company.

Ch. 237A reasonable guess

A video uploader speculated that Xia Xu had risen from poverty to become a wealthy, accomplished entrepreneur, using public company records and Star Sea Venture Capital’s investment success to support the theory. The video reignited online discussion, and Xia Xu woke to a flood of notifications, bewildered.

  • The uploader initially portrayed Xia Xu as a wealthy heir, citing his composure, achievements, and apparent business success.
  • The uploader revealed that Xia Xu had reportedly been penniless and alone four months earlier, then showed public records connecting him to Star Sea Venture Capital and Nine Suns Comprehensive Consulting.
  • Viewers questioned whether the company records belonged to a different person, but the uploader linked Xia Xu to Star Sea Venture Capital’s profitable investment in Wulin Picture Scroll.
  • The uploader speculated that Xia Xu had earned his first capital through consulting work, and viewers debated whether his rise from poverty was genuine.
  • The video spread across media platforms, reigniting discussion about Xia Xu and waking him with a flood of notifications.

Ch. 238Shooting

After learning about the shooting that killed Yunfan Group chairman Dong Changhe, Xia Xu suspected that reports about Dong Shasha’s survival were bait intended to lure out the killer. He connected the attack to Yunfan Group’s canceled brain-control research and decided to investigate the family and a board member.

  • Xia Xu noticed a report that Dong Changhe had been shot dead and his wife and daughter critically injured, then asked Meng Bochao to gather information about the case.
  • Meng Bochao sent Xia Xu organized reports, and Xia Xu noticed that many outlets repeated the same claim that Dong Shasha’s vital signs had stabilized.
  • Xia Xu reasoned that the repeated wording was likely meant to draw out someone who wanted Dong Shasha and her family dead.
  • Xia Xu considered how the shooting might relate to Yunfan Group’s decision to abandon brain-control research and a board member’s effort to restart the project.
  • Xia Xu decided to find a chance to meet Dong Changhe’s family and the board member.

Ch. 239Gu Haiming's arrival

Xia Xu brought Gu Haiming to the Xinghai Medical Research Institute after Gu discovered that small doses of the Superbrain Drug could help stabilize his mental state. Gu accepted a project to improve the werewolf enhancement technology, and the chapter ended as Xia Xu introduced him to its research materials.

  • Xia Xu picked up Gu Haiming at the high-speed rail station and took him to the institute.
  • Gu Haiming told Xia Xu that small doses of the Superbrain Drug helped him stay lucid when his condition worsened.
  • Xia Xu promised to supply Gu Haiming with the drug and said they hoped to reduce its side effects.
  • Xia Xu showed Gu Haiming his laboratory and introduced him to Ji Le and two assistants.
  • Xia Xu assigned Gu Haiming to optimize the werewolf enhancement technology and opened its files for him to study.

Ch. 240Nanya Hospital

Xia Xu visited Nanya Hospital to check on Dong Shasha and her mother, while He Qing spotted plainclothes police surrounding the intensive care unit. Gunfire suddenly erupted near their room, and Xia Xu rushed over after it stopped.

  • Xia Xu left the research institute after introducing Ji Le to Gu Haiming, who began researching the Werewolf Enhancement Serum.
  • Xia Xu and He Qing arrived at Nanya Hospital to investigate Dong Shasha and her mother, who were in intensive care.
  • He Qing identified more than a dozen undercover police officers stationed around the hospital entrances and the intensive care unit.
  • Xia Xu used his attribute panel to confirm the people He Qing had spotted were plainclothes police, then approached the intensive care unit with him.
  • Gunfire erupted near Dong Shasha's room, and Xia Xu ran toward the unit after the shooting stopped.

Ch. 241Drones

After a deadly attack on Dong Shasha’s hospital room, Xia Xu suspected Yunfan Group shareholder Duan Zhiyi and concluded that brain-control technology and armed drones had likely been used. He left the hospital determined to investigate the technology and potentially obtain it himself.

  • Xia Xu saw that plainclothes officers had been shot in Dong Shasha’s room and called He Qing to get doctors to save the survivors.
  • Xia Xu escaped suspicion after helping the officers, then asked Meng Bochao to check Duan Zhiyi’s whereabouts.
  • Meng Bochao reported that Duan Zhiyi had gone abroad after a dispute at the Yunfan Group board meeting and had not returned.
  • Xia Xu suspected Duan Zhiyi had arranged the attacks to advance his ambitions after the brain-control project was canceled.
  • Xia Xu reasoned that brainwave-controlled drones armed with guns could explain the attack and became eager to acquire the technology.

Ch. 242Call me Daddy

Xia Xu weighed how to pursue brain-control technology and planned to return to Nanya Hospital to find Dong Shasha before the Special Department became involved. Back at the Consulting Company, he caught Tang Youxin studying with the Superbrain Drug and teased her until He Qing walked in and hastily fled.

  • Xia Xu decided that Duan Zhiyi was his best lead to the brain-control technology and planned to search Nanya Hospital for Dong Shasha that night.
  • Xia Xu considered involving Uncle Luo and the Special Department but wanted to avoid drawing their attention too soon.
  • He Qing drove Xia Xu back to the Consulting Company, where Tang Youxin was rapidly studying programming books at the reception counter.
  • Xia Xu warned Tang Youxin not to misuse the Superbrain Drug, took her textbook, and scolded her for secretly using the drug despite her claim that she had diluted it.
  • Xia Xu teased Tang Youxin about spanking her and being her daddy, prompting He Qing to blurt out a comment and flee.

Ch. 243Infiltration

Xia Xu dressed for an infiltration and entered Nanya Hospital at night to check on Dong Shasha, with Meng Bochao guiding him through the hospital’s surveillance system. He found Dong Shasha and her mother in the intensive care ward.

  • Xia Xu put on Uncle Luo’s tactical gear, strapped the Miao Dao to A Tuo, and rode a motorcycle to Nanya Hospital.
  • Xia Xu told A Tuo to follow unseen, then contacted Meng Bochao through a wireless earpiece.
  • Meng Bochao said he had control of the hospital cameras and would replace the feeds with footage of empty areas.
  • Xia Xu entered the hospital and asked Meng Bochao to monitor the live feeds and alert him to suspicious people.
  • Xia Xu avoided the night-shift nurses and reached the intensive care floor, where he found Dong Shasha and her mother.

Ch. 244"The Thrower"

Xia Xu investigated Dong Shasha’s plot fragment and suspected that the mysterious “Thrower” was a superhero protagonist. When a cloaked stranger arrived at Nanya Hospital, Xia Xu confronted him with a drawn bow and confirmed that he was the plot protagonist.

  • Xia Xu examined Dong Shasha’s attributes and found a vague plot fragment titled “The Thrower” that revealed nothing beyond events he already knew.
  • Xia Xu reasoned that the Thrower was likely a superhero protagonist whose name referred to a throwing ability.
  • Meng Bochao warned Xia Xu that a cloaked stranger had entered the hospital and was heading toward the intensive care unit.
  • Xia Xu waited beside the stairwell exit and aimed an expanding arrow at the stranger’s forehead when he appeared.
  • Xia Xu identified the stranger as the Thrower but kept his bow drawn and ordered him to raise his hands.

Ch. 245Vector Addition

Xia Xu discovered that Pan Long had a supernatural ability to add kinetic energy to objects, then came under attack by armed drones at the hospital. He destroyed one drone and fled into the stairwell with Pan Long as more drones approached from above and below.

  • Xia Xu examined Pan Long’s attributes and learned that he was a Level 2 protagonist with the ability to add vector kinetic energy to objects.
  • Xia Xu considered whether Pan Long’s ability came from special genes and whether other superhuman abilities existed.
  • Meng Bochao warned Xia Xu of two armed drones hovering outside the corridor window.
  • Xia Xu shot a drone with his Blooming Arrow, destroying it as gunfire shattered the window.
  • Xia Xu grabbed Pan Long and ran into the stairwell, where more drones approached from below.

Ch. 246A lone, aloof ranger?

Xia Xu, Pan Long, and A Tuo fought off coordinated armed drones in the hospital corridor. After Xia Xu and A Tuo destroyed the drones attacking from the stairwell and right-side windows, Pan Long brought down the two remaining drones on the left.

  • Xia Xu retreated from the stairwell and called on A Tuo as an armed drone approached from the corridor.
  • A Tuo crushed the corridor drone, then charged into the stairwell and destroyed the four drones there while evading their gunfire.
  • As drones closed in from both sides of the corridor, Xia Xu ordered Pan Long to handle the left and used his Miao Dao to destroy two drones outside the right-hand windows.
  • Pan Long used Vector Addition to disrupt the two drones on the left, then guided his throwing knives into them and destroyed them.

Ch. 247Money power

After escaping the hospital, Xia Xu discussed Pan Long’s superpower and agreed to work with him to investigate the drone attack. He planned to use the connection to learn more about the plot and possibly recruit Pan Long.

  • Xia Xu and Pan Long fled the hospital after Xia Xu collected the destroyed drones, while Meng Bochao erased the surveillance footage and their escape route.
  • Pan Long praised Xia Xu’s fighting and revealed that thrown objects became like bullets in his hands.
  • Xia Xu joked that his own superpower was being rich and denied wanting to be a superhero.
  • Pan Long asked to help investigate the shooting, and Xia Xu agreed to contact him the next day.
  • Xia Xu suspected Pan Long had a personal connection to the case and considered using their partnership to learn about the plot and recruit him.

Ch. 248Ways to Respond

After reviewing Pan Long’s fate profile, Xia Xu concluded that Duan Zhiyi was likely still in Star City and connected to Pan Long’s relationships and movements. He decided to investigate the connections and the briefcase while finding a way to counter the armed drones before the Special Department intervened.

  • Xia Xu reviewed the plot information from Pan Long’s fate profile and identified Duan Zhiyi, Dong Changhe, and Pan Long’s parents as people whose backgrounds needed investigating.
  • Xia Xu considered the danger posed by the armed drones and concluded that his current weapons and abilities would not protect him from sustained gunfire.
  • Xia Xu reasoned that Duan Zhiyi was probably still in Star City because Pan Long’s abilities and the plot’s logic pointed to a local connection.
  • Xia Xu decided to begin with Pan Long’s relationships and movements, then investigate the briefcase Pan Long’s father had left behind.
  • Xia Xu resolved to find a way to counter the drones and handle the situation before the Special Department intervened, so he could avoid surrendering control or paying for access to Duan Zhiyi’s technology.

Ch. 249Pan Long's secret base

Xia Xu visited Pan Long’s rented warehouse and revealed his identity as Academic God Xia. Pan Long welcomed him into the warehouse and showed him the makeshift secret base he had assembled.

  • Xia Xu had breakfast at Tang Youxin’s family bun shop, where Tang Zhan charged him twenty yuan for two buns.
  • Xia Xu gave He Qing the address Pan Long had provided and went to meet him at a rented warehouse.
  • Pan Long recognized Xia Xu as Academic God Xia and relaxed after Xia openly introduced himself.
  • Pan Long made tea and showed Xia Xu around the warehouse, including its training area, workbench, computer, and stacks of boxes.

Ch. 250Chapter 250

Xia Xu visited Pan Long’s warehouse, where Pan Long showed him his research on superheroes and superpowered people, including Batman and the mysterious martial arts master Xia Xu had portrayed at Ruifeng Supermarket. After assessing Pan Long’s abilities, Xia Xu took him to look for something that could counter armed drones.

  • Pan Long showed Xia Xu his collected intelligence on Batman, and Xia Xu confirmed he knew him and promised to introduce them.
  • Pan Long shared photographs and rumors about a martial arts master in De City, and Xia Xu realized the pictures showed him at Ruifeng Supermarket.
  • Xia Xu corrected Pan Long’s belief that his saber was a Qi Family Saber, explaining that it was a Miao Dao.
  • Xia Xu learned that Pan Long’s urge to become a superhero had been inspired by news about Yao Fu and that his Level Two Life Tier included his Vector Addition ability.
  • Xia Xu took Pan Long from the warehouse in He Qing’s minivan to find something capable of dealing with armed drones.

Ch. 251Huichuang High-Tech

Xia Xu visited Huichuang High-Tech with Pan Long to discuss the company's drone-jamming technology, which he hoped to use against Duan Zhiyi's armed drones. He met the startup's owner, Zhou Xiaodong, and the two began their meeting.

  • Xia Xu and Pan Long arrived at Huichuang High-Tech, where the receptionist recognized Xia Xu's Star Sea Venture Capital business card and led them to the reception area.
  • Pan Long asked whether Xia Xu really owned a company, and Xia Xu joked that his superpower was money.
  • Xia Xu examined Huichuang's drone displays and explained that he wanted the company’s technology to counter Duan Zhiyi's armed drones.
  • Xia Xu reasoned that jamming the drones would require specialized expertise and resources, so he had asked Meng Bochao to find a company working in the field.
  • The receptionist introduced Huichuang's owner, Zhou Xiaodong, who greeted Xia Xu eagerly, and Xia Xu stood to meet him.
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