In the Federation, the spiritual industry of the Lou Family is among the top ranks, with only the Xu Family being able to rival it. However, the Xu Family is far away in East City, and Ji Jue has never had any dealings with them. Moreover, the Xu Family's reputation is less than stellar, and could be described as abominable, being the kind that annihilates competitors to have all the spoils for themselves. With Ji Jue's mindset, there's no worry about that dog running off to make alliances.

Fortunately, the meat is still in the pot, it's just a matter of how expensive a bowl to use for serving it.

Lou Feng waved his hand and sighed, "I can't make decisions for the Lou Family's affairs, Ji Jue, you've got the wrong person.

The spiritual industry is managed by my second uncle; you should talk to him instead."

However, how long has it really been?

A year and a half?

In just a year and a half, the Ember Apprentice who had just started out back then is now someone who can sit at the same table with the entire Lou Family and talk as equals.

By contrast, apart from some modest progress, I have accomplished almost nothing.

Lou Feng couldn't help but lament.

Then, he heard Ji Jue's voice.

"If I wanted to talk to the Lou Family, why would I ask you to come?"

Ji Jue leaned against the Crystal Pillar, looking at him with a faint smile. Lou Feng paused, feeling a stirring in his heart, yet found it hard to believe. Then, he heard Ji Jue's voice.

"—Are you interested in starting your own business and becoming a boss, 'President Lou'?"

Lou Feng's pupils contracted for a moment, then he became increasingly vigilant and angry.

He even laughed with anger... So you're not only after my money, but you won't leave my people alone either!

"Expecting me alone to fully develop the Fly King is impossible; you surely understand the kind of gap we're facing."

Ji Jue openly stated, without any concealment, "I do not wish to lose my leading position; the best method is to jointly develop under a consortium framework.

You are the most suitable partner.

If you join now, it's not just the Fly King's related patent authorization; negotiating the fluid alchemy theory isn't out of the question either, so even modernized adaptation techniques can be open to you.

Apart from some heritages I am not qualified to decide on, I can share most of what I have learned with you, leaving nothing unsaid."

"Sounds nice! But isn't it still working for you!"

How could Lou Feng not know what kind of schemes Ji Jue was plotting? It was as clear as day, "Not only do I have to bring my own resources to work for you, but I also have to take the blame if something goes wrong, and you want me to act as your lackey in the association, waving your flag, right?"

Does Fly King sound good? Certainly promising, but does Lou Feng really lack that kind of money? Is fluid alchemy good? Indeed it is, but with Master Kong backing the Lou Family, does he really lack those inheritances to get by?

In the past, bringing in fluid alchemy was to enrich and accumulate family heritage, but if he bites this bait now, he'll be led by the nose by Ji Jue.

In the association, there are indeed many 'consortiums', usually formed by several workshops that connect and communicate with limited cooperation under the premise of maintaining independence, working closely together.

In other words... This term is practically equivalent to a faction!

A consortium led by Ji Jue—once Lou Feng accepts it—would be perceived by everyone as part of Ji Jue's faction. To put it nicely, it's sharing glory and success; to put it bluntly, it's being in the same boat, sharing the same fate!

If Ji Jue makes a mess in the future, causing trouble and stirring things up, it'll be easy to be targeted during a crackdown; he wouldn't be able to escape!

"Besides me, do you have a better choice?" Ji Jue calmly asked back, "Other than the Fly King, is there a project more suitable for us?

Or are you truly not planning to move forward?"

Lou Feng immediately fell silent.

Everyone carries the heart for Ascension; as a craftsman, who doesn't have a dream of becoming a Grandmaster?

Indeed, it is Ji Jue who issued the invitation, seeking Lou Feng's help. But an invitation is mutual; Lou Feng can refuse and dismiss it, and Ji Jue could grit his teeth and do it alone; even if he couldn't finish all the meat himself, it would still rot in his own pot.

In that case, Ji Jue remains Ji Jue.

And Lou Feng... would probably continue to be 'Young Master Lou'!

"Lou Feng, I once envied you greatly."

Under the reflection of countless elusive lights, Ji Jue gazed at the silent craftsman and frankly told him, "Even before I met you for the first time, when I saw your car, I began to envy you."

Lou Feng was taken aback, looking up at him, but didn't see any mockery.

Just calmness.

"Back then, when I saw your light source parked in front of the master's workshop, my first reaction was to get down on the ground and look at its undercarriage to study its structure... I didn't even dare dream of having one myself one day.

At that time, even paying off my student loans seemed too far away for me."

Ji Jue sighed lightly, "With a supportive family, affluent life, and an unrestrained exuberance that makes it seem like you could grasp everything in life with utmost confidence, the things I wanted seemed so naturally yours. Why wouldn't I envy that?"

"What's going on?"

Lou Feng's expression gradually became indifferent, showing no sign of anger or joy, "Mr. Ji, have you, after conquering the world, begun reminiscing past glories with a second-generation heir like me who's standing still?"

He knew it wasn't that, he knew Ji Jue wasn't that bored.

He was just...

Suddenly, he didn't want to hear it anymore!

"No, I just want to tell you when I stopped envying you," Ji Jue gradually told him, "It was even before I first won against you, after seeing you for the first time."

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