Liu Hui was attacked by a giant ape and a high-tech mecha on New Year's Eve. Although he managed to kill the giant ape, the high-tech mecha escaped.

This left Liu Hui deeply frustrated. He already suspected the "Professor" was behind the giant ape, but he knew nothing about the mecha. Where it came from, which faction controlled it—everything about the high-tech mecha was an unknown territory to him.

Liu Hui mobilized all his intelligence resources to search, but he found absolutely nothing useful regarding either the "Professor" or the mecha. However, he quickly realized that any force capable of commanding a giant ape and a high-tech mecha must be deeply hidden, far beyond what "Star City" could uncover in a short time. The critical issue now was to accelerate his own development. Only by improving his own strength could he gain not only self-preservation capabilities but also powerful counterattack abilities; then, no matter how many enemies came, he wouldn't be afraid.

Having solidified his resolution to develop, Liu Hui made a decision. As soon as the Spring Festival holiday ended, he summoned all the top executives of the Star Group to discuss the future direction of the company.

“Everyone, the main purpose of calling you here today is to communicate about the company’s future development philosophy,” Liu Hui stated, getting straight to the point.

The Star Group executives below were immediately galvanized, listening intently to Liu Hui’s ensuing remarks.

“There will be major changes to the company's core business. Our focus this year will be breaking into the energy industry,” Liu Hui announced.

Hearing this, the executives' minds began to stir. Previously, the Star Group only had the "Star Petroleum Company" remotely connected to energy, which had achieved modest sales performance by selling oil last year. However, they didn't know where that oil came from. Now, hearing Liu Hui declare their entry into the energy sector, they immediately made connections with the "Star Petroleum Company."

Satisfied with their reaction, Liu Hui continued, “That’s right, you heard correctly. Our company will officially enter the energy industry this year. Many of you here might be surprised about where the oil for our 'Star Petroleum Company,' established last year, actually originates. I can tell you now: this is because the Star Group discovered a super oil field deep beneath the seabed. The reserves in this massive field reach forty billion tons. Based on reserves alone, this single field exceeds the total oil reserves of Saudi Arabia.”

Most of the Star Group executives were unaware of this deep-sea oil field, so they were utterly astonished upon hearing Liu Hui’s words. They had assumed that Liu Hui’s plan to enter the energy industry involved acquiring oil resources globally, not realizing their own company already possessed a super oil field of such staggering proportions.

“My plan is to sell all the oil from this super oil field within the first half of this year,” Liu Hui stated.

“Boss, as you just mentioned, the reserves are forty billion tons. If we sell it all off in such a short time, global oil prices will plummet uncontrollably, and our selling price will also be very low because the market simply won't have that level of demand. As a result, the Star Group will suffer huge losses,” commented marketing expert Li Zhi.

“It doesn't matter. My goal is to convert this oil into cash or material assets like machinery in the shortest possible time. A slight loss is acceptable because after the second half of this year, oil will no longer be as valuable,” Liu Hui said with a smile.

“Oil will no longer be valuable? What does that mean? The world cannot function without oil,” asked Mei Peng.

“This question touches upon our company's next phase. Our next plan is to roll out high-capacity energy storage batteries in the latter half of this year. Tell me, with high-capacity energy storage batteries available, will oil still hold the value it does now?” Liu Hui asked with a mysterious smile.

“Boss, have you finally decided to launch the high-capacity energy storage batteries?” Jiang Lu asked in surprise.

As the General Manager of the Star Group, Jiang Lu knew more than the others—she knew the Star Group had long invented these batteries but had previously decided against releasing them to the market.

Many others were hearing about their company’s invention of high-capacity energy storage batteries for the first time, and they were equally thrilled upon hearing the news. With their insight, they immediately grasped the market value of these batteries. After all, nations worldwide had been researching high-capacity energy storage battery programs, as this was crucial to future new energy initiatives. Thus, it could be said that whoever succeeded in developing these batteries would stand at the forefront of the world, advancing a step ahead of other nations.

“That’s right, our next major product push will be these high-capacity energy storage batteries. However, the ones we launch will primarily be civilian models, more specifically focusing on automotive batteries, while also covering the household battery market. The models with high storage capacity that have potential military applications will not be released for now,” Liu Hui explained.

“Boss, does this mean our company is planning to enter the automotive market?” Wu Yuanjia asked excitedly.

“No, we are not directly entering the automotive market. We will only supply high-capacity energy storage batteries for vehicles, thereby propelling the industry from the oil age into the electric age. We will utilize these batteries to form brand-new joint ventures with other large automobile companies, holding shares in those new ventures. Apart from the batteries, we will contribute nothing else. You must realize that after over a century of development, the energy market has formed a massive oligopoly. If we rush in rashly, we will severely damage their interests and face formidable resistance from all sides. That is why I plan to leverage the high-capacity batteries to ally with major automakers, using their strength to challenge the traditional energy market and lay the foundation for us to truly control it,” Liu Hui said with confidence.

“But I fear it won't be that simple. Governments controlled by energy giants will surely react strongly to our entry into the energy market. Even if we ally with other automakers to enter the energy market indirectly, they might not open their markets to us,” Li Zhi voiced his concern.

“That’s fine. Under normal circumstances, don’t we still hold many trump cards? If they don't open their markets, we will completely halt cooperation with them. Without the affordable, superior products from the Star Group that make their lives better, their populace will certainly be the first to object. Have you forgotten? We have already successfully utilized our products to cultivate a large base of vested interests within those very countries. With their support, our products will find a way into those nations,” Liu Hui countered.

Seeing some people about to speak, Liu Hui smiled, “What I just described are contingency measures for standard situations, but this time, I don’t plan to proceed that way. Because this time, I am preparing to unleash a killer move.”

“A killer move? What is it, and will it be effective?” Jiang Lu inquired.

“Heh, this killer move will certainly be effective. You must understand that the biggest problem hindering global development right now is the energy crisis. If we can provide those nations with vast amounts of cheap electricity, do you think they will submit to us?” Liu Hui asked confidently.

“Vast amounts of cheap electricity? That would certainly bring them to heel. But where do we get so much cheap electricity?” Mei Peng asked.

“Heh, for that, I invite the Director of our Star Science Academy, Dean Chen Changsheng, to elaborate for everyone!” Liu Hui gestured toward Chen Changsheng, who had been sitting silently beside him.

Chen Changsheng stood up and said, “Everyone, our Science Academy successfully invented a deep-sea generator two years ago. This generator utilizes the immense water pressure of the deep sea for power generation. By now, our deep-sea power generation technology is highly mature and perfected. Our deep-sea generators located beneath the ocean utilize 0.1% of the deep-sea water pressure to generate electricity. Calculating this, the deep-sea generators of the Star Group can produce over five trillion kilowatt-hours annually. Since the deep-sea pressure is virtually endless, as long as there is demand, we can construct more deep-sea generators, leading to an infinite supply of power.”

A gasp swept through the crowd. China, the world’s top power producer last year, generated only five trillion kilowatt-hours in total. The fact that the Star Group alone could generate over five trillion kilowatt-hours was beyond their wildest imagination.

Liu Hui continued after Chen Changsheng, “We can generate this much electricity annually, yet the total consumption of our entire 'Star City' is less than five hundred billion kilowatt-hours. Our surplus electricity each year will exceed four trillion five hundred billion kilowatt-hours. Thus, we have a massive surplus available for sale externally. Moreover, to achieve our strategic goals, we will price this electricity very low—this is the source of our affordable, quality electricity.”

“Our massive supply of affordable, quality electricity will certainly pique the interest of many nations suffering from power shortages. Tell me, once we deploy this killer move, won’t our high-capacity energy storage batteries gain traction?” Liu Hui asked in conclusion.

Hearing his plan, the attendees silently admired Liu Hui’s audacity. He was willing to use cheap electricity to force open the market for his high-capacity energy storage batteries. Once the whole world became dependent on his batteries, he could then profit from both the battery sales and the massive electricity sales.

As they considered this, the executives felt Liu Hui’s strategy sounded eerily familiar. They suddenly recalled that Liu Hui had used a similar tactic before. He had initially promoted the Star Group’s cosmetics by distributing the “Star [CENSORED] Essence” for free. Once the cosmetics achieved massive sales success, he then monetized the “Star [CENSORED] Essence” after cultivating a huge market through that free distribution.

Although the strategy was old, the sheer scope of Liu Hui’s ambition was unprecedented; no other nation or corporation in the world could execute such a plan. Even if astute observers in other nations recognized Liu Hui’s ploy, they would be unable to stop such an event from unfolding.

It is a fact that most countries today face power deficits, leading to insufficient production capacity. Furthermore, their primary power generation methods—coal, hydro, and nuclear—all cause significant environmental damage, and nuclear power poses serious threats to human safety, leading to strong domestic opposition. Now, having access to cheap electricity, the citizens of those nations would undoubtedly welcome it.

The advent of the Star Group’s cheap electricity hinges on the prerequisite that the receiving party opens its market to the high-capacity energy storage batteries. This proposition would tempt many countries. Not only would the cheap electricity benefit their nations directly, but the high-capacity batteries would also vastly improve daily life. Therefore, unless a country was dominated by overly powerful energy giants, the Star Group's obvious “open scheme” was bound to succeed.

Liu Hui continued, “Starting this year, the Star Group’s development trajectory will undergo significant adjustments. I expect everyone to swiftly adapt your mindset and contribute to the Star Group’s growth. Of course, what I have outlined are only broad strategic directions. Besides oil, high-capacity batteries, and electricity, we will also release other products. We will maintain the Star Group’s consistent characteristic: launch a product, succeed with it, and become the absolute leader in that industry.”

Someone suddenly began applauding vigorously below, and the others quickly followed suit, clapping with enthusiasm. The Star Group, having lain dormant for several years, was finally baring its fangs this year. Leveraging its formidable military strength and scientific research capabilities, the Star Group was forcefully entering the energy sector, taking its first step toward controlling Earth’s energy. A brief moment of thought revealed the foreseeable, brilliant future of the Star Group.

When a corporation controls the world’s energy, coupled with its inherent immense military power, what force in this world could possibly stand in its way? At this moment, every executive of the Star Group felt immense pride in being part of it.

Liu Hui waited for the applause to subside before smiling and saying, “Of course, what I just described concerns operational adjustments for the Star Group. Everyone must keep this in mind. My second point is this: starting in June this year, a formal municipal government will be established on ‘Star City.’ This government will be responsible for managing all administrative affairs on ‘Star City,’ bringing governance onto a proper track.”

After observing Liu Hui’s actions late last year, the Star Group executives were psychologically prepared for the establishment of a city government on "Star City." Those who didn't plan to stay with the Star Group for life began contemplating whether they should seek positions in this newly established government, as the deep-rooted traditional reverence for officialdom spanning thousands of years of Chinese history remained strong. Overall, the news of establishing a city government on "Star City" was less shocking than the Star Group’s aggressive entry into the energy industry.

Liu Hui observed the various expressions of the executives below and smiled, saying, “The last thing I need to discuss is…”

The executives immediately focused their attention, listening carefully. Both matters Liu Hui had revealed so far were monumental; thus, the final announcement, even if not colossal, certainly wouldn't be minor.

“That is, within the first half of this year, we will establish a lunar base on the Moon’s surface, taking the first step toward conquering the cosmos,” Liu Hui said with a faint smile.

“Boss, we can establish a base on the Moon this year?” Li Zhi asked excitedly.

It is worth noting that Chinese people have a deep-seated fascination with lunar exploration, which explains Li Zhi’s excitement. The others also looked at Liu Hui with keen anticipation.

“That’s right, we are establishing a base on the Moon. Our plan is to establish a rudimentary, fully functional small city on the Moon by the end of this year, where five thousand Star Citizens will reside,” Liu Hui explained.

“Boss, do we possess the technology for that now?” Mei Peng inquired.

Liu Hui smiled, “This question should be directed to Dean Chen of the Science Academy.”

Everyone immediately turned to Chen Changsheng, who stated, “Everyone, there is absolutely no exaggeration in the Boss’s words. Our current scientific technology is fully sufficient to support the establishment of a permanent human operational base on the Moon, ensuring that five thousand people can live self-sufficiently within that base.”

They immediately turned back to Liu Hui, who smiled, “Don’t rush, everyone will have the opportunity to go to the Moon, but there is one condition…”

“What condition?” Even Yue Wang, who was growing increasingly calm, couldn't help but ask.

“That is, you must first inject the Body Evolution Fluid developed by the Star Group. After injecting this fluid, human physical potential will be unleashed. To put it in quantifiable terms, all physical functions of individuals injected with the Body Evolution Fluid will be more than five times what they were previously,” Liu Hui announced.

The Body Evolution Fluid Liu Hui mentioned was actually derived from the Zerg organism that provided it to him. Considering the stringent requirements for human bodies in space life, even though the Star Group could now generate artificial gravity—making space life similar to Earth—Liu Hui decided to drastically enhance the physical quality of those who would live in space in the future, just to be safe.

“Boss, can I inject this Body Evolution Fluid immediately?” Jiang Lu asked eagerly.

“As long as you belong to the Star Group, everyone will have the opportunity to receive this Body Evolution Fluid,” Liu Hui replied.

“Boss, doesn’t this mean we are comprehensively upgrading the quality of our Star City’s population?” Mei Peng exclaimed in amazement.

“Precisely. I intend to comprehensively elevate the quality of our Star City population. I want our Star Citizens to become the most outstanding group of people in the world. Even if they aren't exceptional now, they will be in the future—this will be a lifelong benefit for our Star Citizens,” Liu Hui said with a smile.

“Long live the Boss, long live the Boss…” Suddenly, someone began shouting slogans again. This person, thinking about how their own family members could also take this miraculous Body Evolution Fluid to fundamentally improve their physical condition, was overcome with excitement.

Everyone quickly reacted, joining in the loud cheers: “Long live the Boss…”

Liu Hui, who considered the welfare of his citizens wholeheartedly, received the fervent adoration of his people at this moment.