Alexander said, "Teacher, I'll go cut some sections of that large tree for you later. While we were clearing out those bandit lairs, we also found some fine things in their treasury that I think you'll certainly like."

Liu Hui asked out of curiosity, "What good things?"

Alexander took a small pouch from behind him, turned it upside down, and poured out two dazzling crystals. He then held up the two crystals emitting a divine, multi-colored light for Liu Hui to see.

Liu Hui exclaimed in surprise, "These look beautiful. What are they?"

Alexander declared proudly, "These are the crystal cores of Tier Nine magical beasts from our world. I only found out after interrogating those bandits."

Liu Hui inquired, "These are Tier Nine magical beast cores? What is the highest level of magical beasts in your world?"

Alexander replied, "Those elven bandits told me that the highest level for magical beasts in our world is Tier Nine. The elves outside also call Tier Nine beasts 'God-level magical beasts,' meaning their combat power is nearly equivalent to that of a god."

Liu Hui asked, "If Tier Nine beasts are almost as strong as gods, why would their cores be obtainable by those bandits?"

Alexander explained, "They said it was because those God-level magical beasts fought amongst themselves over territory, resulting in casualties, or perhaps they died of old age naturally. Alternatively, those God-level beasts sometimes accidentally wandered into the Elven Empire and were swarmed and killed by the elven armies, or they were deliberately slaughtered by the elven forces. That's how their cores were left behind. Our world has existed for untold tens of thousands of years, so over that time, these inherently rare God-level beast cores have accumulated. Even so, Tier Nine magical beast cores remain incredibly scarce. I only found two in the entirety of those bandits' nests—one left by an electric-elemental beast, and the other by a water-elemental beast. They supposedly acquired them after robbing an ancient, fallen noble family. Even ordinary principalities might not possess a God-level beast core."

Liu Hui asked doubtfully, "What use do these God-level beast cores have that they would hoard them?"

Alexander chuckled, "Although these God-level beast cores don't have much practical utility, they naturally radiate a divine, multi-colored light. This dreamlike radiance can calm one's mood. Elven nobles often keep them in their homes as a source of lighting, and some noble elven women use these God-level cores as ornaments to flaunt their wealth. Because God-level beasts represent the pinnacle of magical beasts—often requiring the sacrifice of ten thousand elite elven warriors to deal with just one—possessing a God-level beast core signifies a family's standing and can elevate their status. Even without much practical use, they are highly sought after for collection. However, aside from God-level cores, those of lower tiers do not emit the multi-colored divine light; even an 8th-tier core looks quite ordinary. According to them, the difference in strength between an 8th-tier and a 9th-tier beast is astronomical; a hundred 8th-tier beasts might not be able to defeat a single God-level beast."

Liu Hui then developed a profound longing for the power of the God-level beasts. Alexander promptly used the planar trade device to transfer the two God-level beast cores to Liu Hui. Upon clicking confirm, the two cores radiating the divine, multi-colored light materialized in his hands.

As Liu Hui caressed the two divine cores, he distinctly felt a powerful electrical energy and a water energy emanating from them—a sensation of clarity entirely different from the cores of lower-level beasts. He carefully stored the two cores, intending to hand them over to Chen Changsheng for further research.

Liu Hui then asked, "My dear Alexander, how do you plan to handle the remains of the warriors who died in battle?"

Alexander looked somewhat downcast. "According to the doctrines of the Church of Light, they should naturally be buried. But they were all exceptional warriors who wished to fight to the very end for the Church. It feels such a waste to simply inter them. If only they could rise again to fight."

A thought sparked in Liu Hui's mind. He immediately recalled the Mao Shan Corpse Refining Art he obtained after killing Gu Yuezi of the Maoshan Sect, a book detailing how to transmute corpses into zombies. Since Alexander lamented the loss of his fallen warriors, why not pass this technique on to him?

With this in mind, Liu Hui stated solemnly, "My dear Alexander, allow me to teach you an entirely new form of magic that can bring your fallen warriors back to fight once more."

Alexander startled, then rejoiced, asking, "Esteemed Teacher, is there truly magic that can make the dead rise to fight again?"

Liu Hui smiled. "There absolutely is such magic, and if this art is cultivated to its peak, the Golden Zombies refined through it will possess terrifying, unmatched power."

Alexander was instantly overjoyed, fidgeting with excitement and repeatedly urging Liu Hui to impart this magic immediately.

Liu Hui cautioned him, "This is a completely new magic. It absorbs the energy of death, so I shall call it Dark Magic. It is the complete antithesis of the Light Magic you currently cultivate. If you attempt to practice Dark Magic while cultivating the light attribute, you risk exploding your body. Therefore, you should only teach this Dark Magic to ordinary people who have yet to cultivate Dou Qi or magic. They must start from scratch for this to work without issue."

Alexander was initially disappointed but quickly reconciled himself to the situation. As the Pontifex of the Church of Light, all its followers obeyed his every command; if they could cultivate Dark Magic, it was tantamount to him being able to cultivate it as well.

So, Liu Hui took out the Mao Shan Corpse Refining Art from his storage space and explained its contents to Alexander. This technique, which Liu Hui had casually dubbed Dark Magic, was entirely different from anything Alexander had previously learned. Nevertheless, relying on his exceptional memory, he managed to commit the entire text to memory. Alexander raised several questions, which Liu Hui answered in detail based on the insights recorded in the secret manual. It was four hours later when Alexander had finally memorized the entire Mao Shan Corpse Refining Art.

After concluding the call with Alexander, Liu Hui couldn't help but marvel at his student's talent. Alexander displayed astonishing combat intuition in his very first engagement, routing several hundred seasoned bandits with what was essentially a rabble, and even wiping out their stronghold. Liu Hui realized he needed to invest heavily in him, as Alexander held the potential for bringing him enormous returns.

Several hours later, Alexander called Liu Hui again, this time to trade the miraculous trees exhibiting extreme cold and extreme heat that he had mentioned earlier. They were two sections of trunk, each over two meters in diameter and eight meters long, covered in extremely peculiar striations.

Liu Hui ran his hands over the two trunks, noting their completely opposite properties. Indeed, one was intensely hot, while the other was intensely cold. That they originated from the same species opened his eyes to the sheer marvel of species across different planes.

Liu Hui then discreetly found Chen Changsheng, handing over the two magical tree trunks and the two God-level beast cores, instructing him to immediately organize personnel for research. Chen Changsheng was equally astonished upon first encountering these novelties. Because Liu Hui frequently presented him with bizarre items, Chen Changsheng was no longer surprised by such oddities, though these new specimens certainly broadened his horizons. He immediately organized his researchers for specialized study.

That afternoon, when Liu Hui returned home from work, Hu Xian'er and his mother had already prepared dinner, and they began eating as soon as he arrived.

The family ate together in harmony. Liu Hui looked at his parents and Hu Xian'er with pleasure. His parents, having received the Rejuvenation Fluid injection, were gradually looking younger after eight or nine months of transformation; externally, they now appeared to be around forty. Liu Hui's father seemed a bit bored, and Liu Hui suddenly recalled a prior decision. He said, "Mom and Dad, I mentioned finding something for you to do before. Are you willing to take on that task now?"

His father replied with some difficulty, "Son, I am bored and want something to do, but I don't understand anything outside of quality control; I can't handle the affairs of your company."

His mother scolded him, "You're still so impulsive! Can't you just listen to what your son has to say first?"

His father immediately fell silent and listened with his wife as Liu Hui laid out his plan.

Liu Hui organized his thoughts and began, "My Starry Sky Group has made quite a bit of money and achieved great success over the last year, but recently, people have begun attacking me in the media, claiming I lack social conscience, only care about making money, and never engage in charity."

His father immediately objected, "They just don't know the situation. When has there ever been a large-scale social donation drive that you weren't part of? Just based on what I know, you've donated a billion already! They're talking nonsense, son; don't listen to them."

Liu Hui gave a wry smile, "It was because I was too low-key before, not publicizing my donations. Now they use that against me, and I can't exactly present past donation receipts to counter them, can I?"

Hu Xian'er interjected from the side, "Then tell us your idea. Are you planning to start your own charity organization?"

Liu Hui laughed, "My wife understands me best. My idea is to establish our own charity organization, which I will name the 'Starry Sky Charitable Foundation.' Your father will be the primary director, and your mother will be the Vice President in charge of finances."

His mother asked with great interest, "The name 'Starry Sky Charitable Foundation' sounds quite good. Tell us the specifics quickly."

Liu Hui explained, "The Starry Sky Charitable Foundation I plan to establish will be entirely a subsidiary of the Starry Sky Group. Every year, the Starry Sky Group will inject capital, guaranteeing an annual contribution of no less than one billion US dollars. However, it will not accept outside donations; you two will be responsible for managing it."

His father laughed heartily, "Son, I like this job! I was poor my whole life, and now in my old age, I get to be a scattering-money boy? I'll take this job; it suits my taste perfectly. I can't handle other work, but I’m certainly good at handing out money."

His mother added, "You can't just hand out money recklessly. I need to help our son keep this money safe and ensure it reaches people who truly need help."

Seeing that his parents were enthusiastic about the role, Liu Hui was very pleased. "Since you both agree, it's settled. Once the organizational framework is established, we will hold a press conference to announce this news publicly and counter those who call me stingy."

In a villa in New York, USA, Chen Lang, the sole heir of the Amy Group, returned home to find his father sitting on the sofa watching television. The screen showed financial news, featuring Wei Chao being interviewed by reporters, speaking eloquently with the air of someone profoundly knowledgeable about world affairs.

Chen Lang collapsed onto the sofa as soon as he entered the living room, grabbing the remote and switching the channel to Hong Kong Satellite TV, which was currently airing celebrity gossip.

His father roared in anger, "You profligate son! Look at Wei Chao, achieving fame and success at such a young age. Then look at you—in your thirties, incapable of doing anything right, not even getting married! What am I supposed to say about you? And you watch Hong Kong entertainment instead of serious financial news? No wonder you're only interested in those minor celebrities!"

Chen Lang smiled, "Father, they are about to broadcast the Starry Sky Group press conference soon. You know, I consider myself a friend of Liu Hui's, so we should keep an eye on his company's movements. It’s a way of learning from success, after all."

His father’s anger subsided slightly. He and Chen Lang watched the entertainment news together, as Liu Hui was currently the hottest figure in the business world, even more so than Wei Chao. The father wanted to learn more about Liu Hui.

Soon, the entertainment segment was interrupted; the Starry Sky Group press conference officially began. It was brief: Liu Hui made a short statement announcing the establishment of the Starry Sky Charitable Foundation, followed by the commitment of an annual contribution exceeding one billion US dollars, and the introduction of his parents as the foundation's directors. The screen then showed images of Liu Hui's parents.

Chen Lang was focused on the broadcast when he heard the sharp sound of a glass falling to the floor and shattering. He turned to see his father staring at the screen displaying Liu Hui's parents, his face etched with shock.

"Father, what is it?" Chen Lang asked, confused.

"Is the woman on the television Liu Hui's mother?" his father asked, barely concealing his excitement.

Chen Lang replied uncertainly, "I don't know, but since Liu Hui said they are his parents on TV, they must be. What's so strange about that?"

Chen Lang’s father immediately said, "Son, book plane tickets right now. We need to get to Hong Kong."

After establishing the Starry Sky Charitable Foundation, Liu Hui’s parents immediately immersed themselves in their roles. Lacking any prior work experience, they were initially unfamiliar with many procedures. However, determined to help Liu Hui manage the foundation well, they pored over materials at home. Thanks to the direct effect of the Rejuvenation Fluid, their memories had recovered significantly, allowing them to grasp the basics of charitable operations after a period of intensive study.

One evening, as Liu Hui and Hu Xian'er were heading home from work, Liu Hui’s phone rang. He saw it was Chen Lang, with whom he had previously reconciled.

"Brother Chen, what brings you to call me?" Liu Hui greeted him warmly.

"Mr. Liu, it’s like this: your company just founded the Starry Sky Charitable Foundation. My father is also very passionate about charity, so he wishes to make a capital injection into your foundation, hoping we can jointly achieve the best results in philanthropic work," Chen Lang explained, privately puzzled by his father’s request for this call.

"I apologize, Brother Chen, but our Starry Sky Charitable Foundation does not accept external donations. We cannot accommodate your father's request for cooperation." Liu Hui refused outright. He wasn't lacking funds and saw no need to bring in external capital. Furthermore, external investment would necessitate involving the investor's management personnel, which would inevitably lead to conflicts that would make things difficult for his parents.

"But my father is already outside your company entrance. Perhaps we could meet and discuss it; maybe we can reach an agreement? Besides, it’s not easy for him to travel all the way from America. Please be considerate of an elderly man’s desire to do good," Chen Lang pleaded.

"This matter is non-negotiable. However, since the esteemed elder is already here, please come in. It's dinnertime; you can join us for a simple meal at my home." Liu Hui gave a firm refusal but extended a symbolic invitation to dinner out of courtesy.

Unexpectedly, Chen Lang readily accepted the dinner invitation. Soon after, Chen Lang, led by security personnel, arrived at Liu Hui’s location alongside an elderly man.

Upon seeing Liu Hui, Chen Lang approached with a hearty laugh and introduced the elder accompanying him: "Mr. Liu, this is my father, Chen Shaokang."

Liu Hui paused, noticing that the elder named Chen Shaokang didn't look particularly old, perhaps around sixty. His complexion was ruddy, his expression resolute—it was clear he must have been a handsome man in his youth.

"Mr. Liu, I possess some assets in America and have engaged in charitable activities in China before. However, various domestic restrictions prevented my philanthropic efforts from reaching their full potential, leaving me with some regrets. Now that your company has established the Starry Sky Charitable Foundation, I wish to join forces with you to expand and strengthen charitable work, helping those truly in need," Chen Shaokang stated his purpose immediately upon meeting.

Liu Hui gestured for them to enter and said with a smile, "Let's put that aside for now. Since you've come, you are my guests. Please, join us inside my humble residence."

Chen Shaokang smiled faintly. "Mr. Liu's invitation, how could this old man refuse?"

Liu Hui and Hu Xian'er led Chen Shaokang and Chen Lang back to their home. Just as they stepped inside, Liu Hui's mother emerged from the kitchen carrying dishes.

Before Liu Hui could introduce them, Chen Shaokang stepped forward first, stood before Liu Hui's mother, and said, his voice trembling, "Nana, it's Shaokang. I’ve finally found you."

Liu Hui's mother looked up and saw Chen Shaokang standing before her. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "Are you Shaokang?"

Chen Shaokang exclaimed with delight, "Nana, I am Shaokang! We meet again at last!"

Liu Hui's mother’s hand softened, and the serving platter slipped from her grasp, shattering into pieces on the floor.

Thanks to book friends: Aihou Nü and Yin Yue Qing Lian for the rewards, thank you.

A few reflections: The high-speed train derailment that occurred the night before last grieved me deeply, and I mourn for the passengers who perished.

Ironclad facts have proven that the quality of China's high-speed rail is absolutely problematic, yet the relevant authorities are unwilling to admit this reality. They are even concealing the wreckage in a bid to permanently suppress the truth, all of which fills me with immense fury.

What concerns me even more is that the authorities have begun controlling public opinion, redirecting the narrative toward the touching acts of heroism among the rescue workers, and even referring to the rescue of a two-and-a-half-year-old child as a "miracle." I fear it won't be long before this incident is turned into a commendation rally.

This event is inherently a tragedy; it must not be treated as a celebration. I sincerely hope the relevant departments will genuinely pay attention instead of offering mere perfunctory self-criticism without enacting any actual change, allowing ordinary citizens to continue bleeding.

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