Being able to earn tens of millions while still a student immediately set him miles ahead of them. At the very least, none of them possessed that capability; even Li Ya, hailed as a financial prodigy, hadn't shown such prominence during his school years.

He only gradually revealed his talent after graduating and working for a while. Su Zhantao’s words also made the three of them cease looking down on Zhang Yang.

When they first arrived, they genuinely assumed Zhang Yang was just some rich kid tagging along for the fun, and while they wouldn't exclude him, they certainly held him in low regard internally. Wang Chen was like that; when they first met, many people weren't impressed by him.

It was only after spending more time together, coupled with Wang Chen’s relative modesty, that these people reluctantly accepted him. “I truly didn't expect Brother Zhang to be a financial genius; you are far, far better than us!” Li Ya chuckled softly.

While he was praising Zhang Yang, there was a faint hint of awkwardness in his tone. He was also an inherently proud person, and seeing someone much younger than him achieve far greater results naturally brought a level of internal resistance.

“Young Master Li is too kind; that time was purely luck. If you asked me to do it again, I couldn't replicate it.

I actually studied medicine; my real strength lies in medical skills!” Zhang Yang said with a smile, causing the others’ eyes to widen again. Within seconds, all of them burst into laughter, including Yang Ling, who giggled delightedly.

Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly. He was stating the absolute truth, but judging by their expressions, not a single one of them believed him.

Yang Ling laughed as she spoke, “Young Master Zhang is truly witty. If you really studied medicine, I believe you must be a divine doctor!” Wang Chen chimed in, “Exactly.

Young Master Zhang is that kind of genius; he excels at anything he sets his mind to!” The group praised Zhang Yang. This acknowledgment served as their acceptance; Zhang Yang was the youngest, but he certainly possessed the credentials to earn their regard.

Any one of them would have been hard-pressed to turn three million into sixty million within a month—that was an increase of over twenty times, and in just one month. “What are you all laughing about?

What genius?” A hearty laugh echoed from outside as a tall man, looking to be around thirty, strode in. He was powerfully built, almost rivaling Hu Xin in stature.

His hair was cut very short, he wore sunglasses, a white tank top, and jeans; anyone unfamiliar might mistake him for a gangster. “Brother Cheng is here!

We just met two new friends, both truly promising young talents!” Huang Hai, Wang Chen, and Li Ya all walked over, as did Yang Ling. Their movements indicated that this newcomer commanded significant authority among them.

“New friends, welcome!” The burly man glanced at Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao, then walked directly up to them. He first extended his hand toward Zhang Yang: “My name is Long Cheng, from the Long Group.

A pleasure to meet you both!” He offered his hand to Zhang Yang first simply because Zhang Yang was closer to him. “Zhang Yang.

I’m still a student. I hope for your guidance in the future!” Zhang Yang shook his hand.

His hand was much smaller than Long Cheng’s, creating a noticeable contrast. As they shook hands, Zhang Yang’s brow twitched suddenly.

He sensed a faint fluctuation of Neijin (Internal Energy) emanating from Long Cheng. Though weak, it was definitely present.

This meant Long Cheng also cultivated Chinese Qigong and possessed Neijin. Of course, his Neijin was nowhere comparable to Zhang Yang’s.

Although Zhang Yang couldn't explain how he retained his Neijin in this body, in his previous life, he had earned it through arduous cultivation. Before he was even a year old, his grandfather began needling him.

After turning two, he started medicinal soaks; at three, he practiced breathing exercises; and by six, he was learning basic techniques. All the formidable Neijin he possessed in his last life was forged through sheer hard work, with no shortcuts taken.

Looking at Zhang Yang, Long Cheng’s heart stirred slightly as well. He hadn't detected Zhang Yang’s Neijin, but he sensed the young man was extraordinary, suddenly feeling an urge to test him.

He began to increase the pressure on his grip—not excessively, but enough to cause mild pain to an ordinary person. The moment he applied the force, Zhang Yang noticed and frowned slightly, looking at Long Cheng with a hint of confusion.

Seeing his reaction, Long Cheng showed a flicker of surprise and unnaturally increased the strength of his grip. This time, the force was enough to make a normal person cry out.

Zhang Yang remained unmoved, as if Long Cheng wasn't holding his hand at all. “Huh!” Long Cheng sighed inwardly and applied even more pressure.

Without using Neijin, this was already a considerable show of strength. Even a slightly stronger man couldn't endure his current force.

The others also noticed something was amiss and gathered around, looking at Long Cheng with astonishment. The Long Group that Long Cheng belonged to wasn't particularly famous; in terms of renown, it couldn't even compare to Wang Chen’s Kaida Group.

This was mainly because the Long Group operated with extreme discretion. They were involved in numerous industries, but they never used the "Long" name prominently elsewhere.

Everyone knew the famous entities like Meiliang Chemical, Fuda Electrical Appliances, and Guoqiang Technology. These were all businesses managed by the Long family.

The most renowned aspect of the Long family was their lineage. It was very secretive, with a large population, rumored to maintain close ties with high-level officials—the specifics were unknown.

Long Cheng wasn't a direct heir of the Long family; he was considered collateral, currently managing the Long Group’s operations in Changjing. Despite being collateral, Long Cheng was an accomplished figure, highly respected by those around him; in this circle, he was practically the leader.

Usually, Long Cheng was known for his forthright and generous nature, earning widespread affection. No one expected him to engage in a contest of strength during his first meeting with Zhang Yang.

Long Cheng pushed his grip to its absolute maximum, yet Zhang Yang remained merely frowning, allowing him to squeeze his hand. At this point, Long Cheng’s expression shifted to shock.

He knew exactly how strong he was. Holding Zhang Yang’s hand felt like grasping an iron rod; no matter how hard he squeezed, it yielded no effect.

A person’s hand could not literally be an iron rod; this only meant Zhang Yang also possessed immense strength, far surpassing his own. Compared to him, Zhang Yang looked so slight and frail; he never imagined such tremendous hidden power lay within that small frame.

As for why Long Cheng was challenging him, Zhang Yang wasn't entirely sure. But there was an adage: reciprocity is due for favors received.

When Long Cheng momentarily eased his pressure, Zhang Yang suddenly tightened his own grip. Zhang Yang still refrained from using Neijin.

However, his body had been tempered by millennia-old ginseng and the three-colored fruit, making it incomparably robust—far stronger than any ordinary person. Even without activating his Neijin, it was a force Long Cheng couldn't possibly resist.

With that single surge of power, Long Cheng’s face drained of color, turning deathly pale. His lips trembled slightly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

Zhang Yang’s hand felt like a massive pincer clamping down fiercely on his own. This brought him piercing, heart-rending pain—pain in the fingers, which are intimately connected to the heart, was agonizing.

Long Cheng was always the one inflicting such agony; this was the first time he experienced it firsthand. However, despite the intense pain, Long Cheng dared not deploy his Neijin.

If he had used it, he could have matched Zhang Yang’s current physical strength. This was contingent on Zhang Yang not using his Neijin, of course.

If Zhang Yang had used his Neijin, Long Cheng would have been the one suffering the true misfortune. “Young Master Zhang, such immense strength.

I am truly impressed!” Enduring the pain, Long Cheng managed to utter the words slowly. Zhang Yang finally released the pressure, and Long Cheng instantly exhaled in relief.

By saying this, he was essentially conceding defeat to Zhang Yang. The others were utterly stunned at this moment.

They were all well aware of Long Cheng’s physical power; no one expected that in a test of strength against Zhang Yang, Long Cheng would be the one to suffer. They had witnessed everything that transpired; these were not foolish people, and they understood exactly what had happened.

“My apologies. I accidentally used a bit too much force just now!” Zhang Yang grinned, offering an explanation.

He held no grudge against Long Cheng, so there was no need to press the advantage. Moreover, Zhang Yang respected that Long Cheng hadn't resorted to Neijin throughout the exchange, proving that it was purely a test and not an attempt to genuinely harm him.

It was even more commendable that he refrained from using Neijin to mitigate the pain in the end. Naturally, had Long Cheng used his Neijin, his situation would have only worsened.

Zhang Yang’s Neijin value was around 35, while Long Cheng’s was at best 5—the disparity was immense. “Su Zhantao, runs a small internet company himself!” Long Cheng then greeted Young Master Su.

This time, he didn't apply any force, merely a light handshake before letting go. His hand honestly couldn't summon much force anyway; it hadn't recovered from Zhang Yang's grip.

“Young Master Su, Xiao Ling often mentions you. This is our first meeting, but from now on, we all know each other.

In Changjing, we are all friends!” Long Cheng added another comment. The painful expression he wore moments ago had completely vanished.

This single statement significantly improved Su Zhantao’s impression of him. Zhang Yang also nodded; if Long Cheng weren't excessively cunning, he seemed to be a genuinely forthright person.

Based on his behavior, Zhang Yang leaned toward the latter—he appreciated people like that. Long Cheng then turned to Yang Ling: “Xiao Ling, Old Wu and Old Chang both have prior engagements and can’t make it, so they specifically asked me to pass the message along!” “If they aren’t coming, then our party is complete.

Let’s head out now!” Yang Ling glanced at everyone and said softly. Those two had also arranged to come, but unfortunately, something came up last minute, forcing them to cancel; they would have to meet up another day.

Counting Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao, there were now only nine people in total. With the others already present, the group was assembled.

They were all traveling to Shanghai for the auto show—partly because they were going the same way, and partly because they all shared a love for cars. Having companions with a common interest meant they wouldn't be alone and could enjoy the atmosphere more.

Of course, the trip also served the purpose of socializing and strengthening bonds. People who enjoy and can afford high-end vehicles are generally of a certain standing and belong to the same cohort… Third chapter done, six more to go.

Xiao Yu will continue typing. The next chapter should update around four o’clock.

Wishing all my friends sweet dreams. Keep going!

(To be continued... RQ)