As it turns out, there's always someone better. Qin Xiao now has a thick skin and a deep enough wallet.
However, someone as suddenly wealthy as him still can't compete with a seasoned capitalist like Tony, who has been operating in capitalist countries for decades and has a long-standing legacy.
He accepted a car worth several hundred thousand dollars from Tony, only to be dragged by Tony to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a newly opened luxury apartment building.
He was surrounded by a group of scantily clad hostesses, and Tony kept trying to talk to him.
Having just received a large sum of money, Qin Xiao couldn't save face and, in a daze, bought two duplex apartments on the top floor, totaling more than 1,000 square meters.
It cost tens of millions of US dollars.
Even after signing the papers and paying the money, Qin Xiao was still completely bewildered and asked Tony questions.
"Even if we'll be spending more time in New York in the future, why should I buy two houses?"
"No, no, no! My friend, you're mistaken. It's one set; the other set has my name on it!"
Tony smugly wagged his right index finger.
"Oh my God, you must not have read the contract carefully when you signed it, right? How about it, being my neighbor, isn't that a pleasant surprise?"
"My villa in New York is already quite dilapidated, and the new Stark Tower has only just begun construction, taking at least two or three more years to be fully completed. You don't want me living in a run-down villa for the next few years, do you, my friend?"
Tony grinned like a weasel that had stolen a hen.
" Tony, you dragged me along to the ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier. That apartment building must have been built by your friend, right? Ask if we can get a refund!"
Qin Xiao turned his head blankly and said through gritted teeth.
"Unless a relevant organization issues a certificate proving a quality problem, it absolutely cannot be returned. Trust me, that apartment building is a new property under Stark Industries; I can't be mistaken."
Tony pulled Qin Xiao into the car and took on the role of driver.
"You mean, I spent the money for two houses to get one, not only giving you one as a gift, but also buying a house built by your company, right?"
"Relax, my friend, don't get agitated. You're practically crushing the car door with your hands! My God! This is your car, Qin!"
Can I return this car?
Qin Xiao felt like crying but had no tears left to shed.
"No, I, Tony Stark, will never take back what I've given to a friend!"
Tony answered decisively.
" Tony?"
"Um?"
"My language skills have been deteriorating lately, can you translate for me what the hell means by 'surprise'?"
Since they couldn't move into the house right away, Qin Xiao dragged Tony along and slept in Tony's presidential suite at New York's most luxurious hotel for several days.
He locked himself in his suite for two whole days and carved Tony Stark's name on the toilet dozens of times.
Finally, the system upgrade came to an end.
It's called a system upgrade, but it's really just opening up Level 2 Shop.
Level 2 Shop
Intermediate Super-Soldier Serum: Grants a basic Asgard divine body, in an unawakened divine state, with lifespan extended to 5000 years! 3000 points.
Intermediate Fighting Skills: An upgraded version of beginner fighting techniques. It makes more efficient use of the strength of the whole body's bones and muscles. With the same physical qualities, the strength and speed can be increased by at least 20% compared to Intermediate Fighting Skills! 800 points.
Intermediate Weapon Mastery: An upgraded version of Basic Weapon Mastery, allowing for more effortless use of most melee weapons, and a preliminary grasp of the fundamentals of mastering the weapon. 800 points.
The D-Class Combat Suit is an upgraded version of the E-Class Combat Suit. In addition to the left and right functions of the E-Class Combat Suit, it also adds 30% kinetic energy elimination and 700 points.
D-Class Melee Weapon Customization: An upgraded version of an E-grade weapon, capable of barely breaking through high-end alloys (such as Iron Man's Gold-Titanium Alloy ), but still lacking the sharpness to cut through iron like butter! Weapon toughness and sturdiness increased. 700 points.
Basic Spatial Storage Device: 10 Cosmic Cube of storage space; shape can be customized: such as a ring, bracelet, watch, necklace, etc. PS: If you like, it can even be turned into a diaper, as long as you don't mind the items in the space being submerged in urine. 1000 points.
With the opening of the Level 2 Shop, prices have increased several times over, and the points I had always had in abundance suddenly became insufficient.
After much deliberation, Qin Xiao concluded that one must be strong oneself to succeed.
Nothing is more important than one's own strength.
I gritted my teeth and bought the Intermediate Super-Soldier Serum first.
Suddenly, I only had a pitiful 500 points left, and I couldn't afford to buy anything in the Level 2 Shop.
"System, why is this Intermediate Super-Soldier Serum described as Asgard deity? It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the words 'Super-Soldier Serum '!"
Qin Xiao asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Because the host previously fused with the Hulk's serum, for the healthy growth of the host's strength, the intermediate serum, which originally only doubled the effect of the primary serum, is not very meaningful to the host. Therefore, it has been slightly upgraded, and the points required are also slightly more than before. As for the name, these are all irrelevant, so please don't worry about these details."
A lifeless voice sounded from the system.
"Damn, that makes so much sense, I don't even know how to refute you!"
Qin Xiao couldn't find fault with this. If completing the Hulk's random mission only doubled the effect of the basic serum, it wouldn't make much difference to him, who already possessed 30% of the Hulk's power.
As for storage devices, we can buy them later when we earn more points.
"System, I have another question about the Ancient One's unusual behavior that day, and the so-called Time Variance Authority, etc."
Qin Xiao expressed his doubts.
"First of all! This isn't just one problem, there are several. Secondly, I'm merely an assistant to help the host gain strength in a more convenient and simple way. To put it bluntly, I'm just a cheat code. When it comes to thinking things through, why doesn't the host, as an intelligent being, use their own biological brain? Instead, they ask me, an assistant tool. If I knew everything, what would I need you as a host for? Host, you're dreaming..."
Damn it!
Speechless under the influence of an auxiliary tool, Qin Xiao felt that his brain needed an upgrade.
Since the system said so, Qin Xiao stopped asking. Anyway, he had already decided last time that he didn't care about any of that nonsense and just needed to focus on becoming stronger.
However, Qin Xiao had a vague feeling that the items in the Level 2 Shop this time, especially that divine body disguised as Intermediate Super-Soldier Serum, were...
It's definitely related to Thor's mission this time, probably paving the way for him to go to Asgard and receive Odin's reward later.