It was 2003 now. After Ye Wen followed Flores to Europe, he first stayed with the Holy See for a while to secure his official identity, and then began seeking out professionals to assist with his grand design.

One had to admit the Holy See was incredibly reliable; a power that had existed in Europe for over a thousand years could make sorting out a person’s identity an effortless task.

Ye Wen now held dual citizenship in both the UK and the USA, entirely legal and recognized by both nations. Furthermore, records of Ye Wen’s birth and every detail of his life story were traceable, not only meticulously detailed but supported by countless witnesses ready to vouch for him.

This identity specified that Ye Wen was a descendant of Chinese immigrants born in the UK, an orphan who grew up in a Liverpool orphanage (an institution that no longer existed). After reaching adulthood, he enrolled at MIT in the United States (the college had detailed enrollment and withdrawal records, and several former classmates and roommates could confirm his attendance). He dropped out after two years to dedicate himself to his ventures, establishing his own enterprises in America, now counting as one of the major shareholders of Google (Zhang Hengguang had handled this matter as Ye Wen instructed). He had now returned to Liverpool, where he spent his childhood, intending to make his mark…

Seeing such a comprehensive identity, Ye Wen was genuinely astonished for quite some time. He even entertained the fleeting thought that perhaps one day while walking down the street, a stranger might suddenly approach and exclaim, "Hey, old classmate! Long time no see…"

Thankfully, such a scenario was impossible, as the witnesses were primarily personnel connected to the Holy See—all "insiders"—and thus incapable of such absurd behavior.

Moreover, the immense trouble surrounding Chris, who had arrived in Europe with him, was something the Holy See was utterly powerless to resolve. In their current estimation, this 'Sun-worshipper' was a true creature of darkness, no longer truly human. However, this difficulty did not stump Ye Wen. After consulting with Chris himself, Ye Wen imparted a cultivation technique that had long been fixed in his memory.

He had specifically asked Chris at the time: "This is a profound method from my sect. If you cultivate it, it will resolve the dark energy issue within your body, making you incredibly powerful while ensuring you remain human. However, this method carries a slight inherent risk; while I have an idea, I cannot guarantee you will be completely unscathed!"

"Furthermore, because this is a secret technique of my sect, if you wish to learn it, you must formally join the sect—that is, become one of my disciples!"

Chris’s body was already beginning to transform; a small bump had even sprouted on his forehead, appearing ready to develop into a pair of horns. His fingers and teeth were growing sharper. Terrified by his increasing monstrous transformation, he was instantly ready to agree upon hearing Ye Wen had a solution.

"Don't rush to agree. To prevent future regrets, I must first explain how critically important the concept of formal apprenticeship is in the Eastern world…"

After thoroughly explaining the Eastern concept of lineage and formal sect affiliation to Chris, the American man did not deliberate for long and immediately consented. Ye Wen thus accepted Chris into his lineage, though only as a probationary disciple.

What Ye Wen intended to pass on to Chris was the Seven-Colored Dou Qi, capable of assimilating all forms of energy and converting them into the energy system of his own practice.

Ye Wen had actually considered for quite some time whether to offer the Seven-Colored Dou Qi or the Absolute Domain. But after much thought, he ultimately felt the Seven-Colored Dou Qi aligned better with Eastern cultivation methods, so he wrote down the cultivation method for the Seven-Colored Dou Qi and began teaching it to Chris bit by bit.

Now, more than two years had passed. The American had completed the initial phase of the Seven-Colored Dou Qi practice—White Dou Qi cultivation. With the massive supply of dark energy as fuel, Chris's progress was astonishingly fast. If not for the fact that, as a foreigner, he lacked understanding of concepts like 'Qi sensation' or the 'Dantian,' his progress might have been even quicker.

However, after examining Chris’s condition, Ye Wen was certain that the speed of his Seven-Colored Dou Qi cultivation would accelerate further in the coming period. Perhaps once he converted all that dark energy, he could push the Seven-Colored Dou Qi to an exceptionally high level.

"In that case, my Shu Shan Sect gains a formidable fighting force!"

Besides Chris, Ye Wen was surprised to find that Tommy Johnson, the Black man, possessed remarkable talent for the Seven-Colored Dou Qi. This man had been listening in while Chris studied. Now, after more than two years, and with Ye Wen’s guidance, he had actually managed to develop a Qi sensation. This fellow lacked the massive reservoir of dark energy as backing, meaning he achieved this purely through innate talent and sheer effort.

Currently, Tommy could also exert a very faint White Dou Qi. The exuberant Tommy would frequently come to pay his respects to Ye Wen. Ye Wen readily accepted him as a probationary disciple as well.

"After all the running around and serving, it would feel wrong not to accept him!"

Standing in the stands of Anfield, Ye Wen looked out at the empty pitch. He had managed to lift the curse, restoring his sight. This wasn't because he had cultivated his Divine Sense to an extremely high level, but because he had discovered a small technique allowing him to instantly seal off his vision and other senses at will. Whenever he needed it, using this method would return him to the state of cultivating his Divine Sense as before.

"Though this method is a bit like Shaka's, it… feels pretty cool!"

Zhang Hengguang had once remarked this when he visited Europe. Ye Wen hadn't denied it; in truth, his method was inspired by Shaka. While it borrowed from anime plots, there was no rule against drawing inspiration, was there? If Shaka could cultivate his Cosmo by closing his eyes to block vision, why couldn't he use a similar method to cultivate his Divine Sense?

Zhang Hengguang had wanted to learn this technique too, as a stronger Divine Sense would allow him to use talismans faster and more conveniently. Unfortunately, Zhang Hengguang’s current strength was insufficient; if he were to truly seal off his senses, he’d probably get run over by a car the moment he stepped outside.

During these past few years, the manager had also contacted Ye Wen, hoping to acquire more songs from this prodigious talent. However, Ye Wen had already amassed sufficient funds and was now a shareholder in Google. Once Google went public in '04, his net worth would skyrocket, rendering any pursuit of petty cash unnecessary.

So, Ye Wen simply declined the agent who had delivered his first payment, choosing instead to travel leisurely around Europe, occasionally teasing his wife, and tutoring his two foreign disciples.

Simultaneously, he was awaiting the success of his acquisition!

It was only today that the two-year-long acquisition negotiations were finally complete. Tomorrow, he would officially appear before the public as the new Chairman of this long-established English club.

Since the entire acquisition had been handled secretly, with Ye Wen employing professional agents to manage the details, he had never shown his face publicly. Perhaps tomorrow, he would become world-famous within a few hours, while also preparing himself for the inevitable curses and vitriol from some sections of the English public.

"This place, worth over 200 million pounds?"

Wearing an OL uniform, high heels clicking, with a thin layer of nude nylon accentuating the tautness of her calves, Hua Yi, now accustomed to modern life and fashion, looked at the enormous stadium with a hint of surprise. Having understood what two hundred million pounds represented, she couldn't fathom why such a structure would command such a price.

"Not just here!"

A young man in a suit seemed eager to showcase his gentlemanly demeanor in front of Hua Yi. This Frenchman was a member of the agency team Ye Wen had hired. True to the romantic nature of the French and their unspoken rule not to pass up any beautiful woman, he appeared instantly by Hua Yi’s side and began his effusive introduction.

"Besides this stadium, Anfield, there is also the Melwood training complex and all the advanced facilities within. Furthermore, the club itself…"

"Enough about that!" Ye Wen waved a hand, halting the Frenchman's peacock-like monologue. "I only expect tomorrow’s press conference to go smoothly, and… keep any dissenting voices to an absolute minimum!"

"No problem, sir!"

The French peacock was slightly displeased at being interrupted, but he knew the young Asian man before him was not someone he could afford to offend. If nothing else, a person who could casually toss out three hundred million pounds was certainly not someone to cross. In the presence of such an influential figure, it was best to be discreet. As for the woman…

"A woman is nice, but my life and future are more important!" The handsome Frenchman made his decision in a blink. "I hear the Page 3 girls in England are both stunning and passionate; perhaps finding one for some relaxation would be a good option!"

Ye Wen surveyed the stadium one last time, finally taking a deep breath.

"Everything is proceeding according to plan. Next is making my name resonate across the world! Especially influencing my own homeland…"

June 2003 saw an earth-shattering event in the world of football.

The long-established English powerhouse, the Red Army Liverpool, changed ownership!

This in itself was not unprecedented; in the history of European football, a club changing hands was a common and normal occurrence! However, this instance was vastly different because the new owner of Liverpool was a man of Chinese descent!

When this news broke, many assumed it was April Fool's Day, especially the Liverpool supporters who reacted with amused disbelief: "Stop joking; this isn't funny! Do you think our Reds will become playthings for the rich like those guys in London?"

But quickly, the flood of newspaper coverage and images from the press conference spread to every corner of the globe. Ye Wen’s name became known to most of the world within a single day.

Beyond the unique status of being the first Chinese owner to take control of a major European club, it was his declaration during the press conference to all those who questioned what he could bring to Liverpool.

"I have prepared sufficient transfer funds for the new manager of Liverpool. Whatever he asks for, I will provide!"

"Do you mean… there is no ceiling?"

Ye Wen nodded, delivering the words that made every reporter gasp: "No ceiling!"

No one knew Ye Wen's private thoughts: I’m here to throw money around, flaunt my wealth, and gain notoriety. What limit should I set?

Almost simultaneously, Liverpool announced their selection for the new season’s head coach: the future 'Special One,' Mourinho, whom Ye Wen had specifically arranged to bring over from Portugal. Ye Wen and Mourinho did not converse for long; Ye Wen simply offered the Portuguese man an offer lasting five years with an annual salary so astronomical it was impossible to refuse.

More importantly, Ye Wen promised the Portuguese enough time to build his team. All Mourinho needed to do now was draft a recruitment list, and then ask Ye Wen for the money!

It was that simple.

Ye Wen spent one day making himself known to half the planet, and within a month, the entire world witnessed the madness of the new Liverpool owner. In just one month, he poured over a hundred million pounds in transfer fees, completely overhauling the Liverpool squad.

His actions not only conquered the Liverpool fans in record time but also shocked the distant Chinese populace. Chinese fans, who had been paying increasing attention to the Premier League in recent years, were stunned that a countryman could be so lavish, challenging the Russian who had successfully taken over Chelsea, Abramovich, seemingly competing over who could spend more. Whenever Ye Wen bid 20 million, Abramovich would immediately match it with 20 million.

The entire transfer market descended into chaos stirred up by these two teams, while Ye Wen, relaxing in his opulent villa, began contemplating his return home.

These matters of business and football were merely means to achieve fame. His true goal was simply to spend money and appear before reporters. Now, all he needed to do was wait for time to pass, occasionally showing his face on camera to ensure his fame grew steadily.

Moreover, as time progressed, Ye Wen's status as a major Google shareholder would be revealed, further boosting his prestige. Once Google was listed, his standing would be sufficient for him to ignore the harassment of petty clowns.

After that, he could begin preparations for establishing a school back home. In the meantime, preliminary work could start, such as selecting the school site and beginning construction on classrooms and dormitories, along with other necessary facilities.

He wouldn't need to handle these things personally. With his authority and established status, Ye Wen only needed to direct from his mansion, and naturally, others would handle the execution.

Zhang Hengguang now knew Ye Wen's intentions. He wasn't sure how to react to this senior member devising such a method, merely wiping the sweat from his brow and marveling that this senior was indeed extraordinary; such a grand spectacle launched with a single move was far more imposing than the elders constantly sequestered in their mountain gates.

Zhang Hengguang, who periodically returned to China, would take time to observe the extent of Ye Wen's fame domestically. He deliberately visited places where fans gathered, like sports bars, and managed to gather quite a bit of information.

"Senior, you've made quite a name for yourself now. If you announced you were opening a school back home, you wouldn't even need to hire anyone; reporters would flock to interview you!"

Leaning back on a sofa, sipping a cold drink, Ye Wen shook his head. "Not enough yet. This is just sudden fame; it needs time to ferment and settle!"

Currently, Ye Wen needed to do almost nothing—at most, he needed to show his face at Anfield for Liverpool’s home games, watch the match, and strike a few poses for the cameras. To ensure his image was seen by the widest possible audience in China, he personally funded the purchase of the Premier League broadcasting rights and gifted them to the Central Television station. This action alone helped him forge some superficial connections with influential figures back home.

The reward for this was that CCTV would dispatch production crews to create specialized programs to further boost his domestic fame. Based on this alone, Ye Wen felt his money hadn't been wasted.

Zhang Hengguang looked through the floor-to-ceiling window and saw the two figures practicing in the courtyard, causing him a moment of stunned confusion. Tommy and Chris, two foreigners, were enveloped in faint, visible white mist, sparring with authentic Chinese martial arts moves—a sight that felt inherently awkward to him.

"Senior… are you teaching martial arts?"

He already knew that Tommy and Chris had become Ye Wen's probationary disciples, and that Chris had cured his physical aberrations through the cultivation method Ye Wen imparted. Now, outwardly, he looked indistinguishable from an ordinary person, just notably robust.

He had always assumed Ye Wen would teach Eastern cultivation techniques and corresponding spells. He never expected Ye Wen to teach them Kung Fu.

"My sect emphasizes cultivating the self, tempering muscle and bone, and entering the Dao through martial arts. Therefore, none of my disciples know how to use magic artifacts or spells; they rely solely on their own strength in combat…"

Ye Wen had long prepared this explanation for when he was questioned in the future. However, as soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Hengguang’s expression shifted to one of shock and astonishment, as if he had encountered some terrifying monster.

"Pre… Senior’s sect… is a Martial Cultivation lineage?"

Ye Wen paused, suddenly realizing that within this context, his own formidable status as a martial artist placed him in a branch of the cultivation world known as Martial Cultivation. But why was Zhang Hengguang so surprised?

"Why such surprise?"

Zhang Hengguang initially wanted to ask if the Senior knew, but then remembered Ye Wen had been in seclusion for an unknown period and might not be fully informed about external matters. He promptly explained with reverence: "Given the current environment, cultivators can still rely on certain methods to absorb Heaven and Earth spiritual energy for practice. But in these conditions, martial artists struggle to even find a Qi sensation. Countless individuals practice their whole lives and remain stuck in the realm of mere external strength. Thus, the lineage of Martial Cultivation has become extinct in the cultivation world…"