Chapter Sixty-Six: Yu Gate (Part One)

The underworld suddenly erupted into chaos!

Not long ago, the Dominion had offered two hundred million dollars to kill a Chinese grandmaster named Jiang An. It was assumed that news of his demise would soon follow. Contrary to all expectations, however, the assassination target, Jiang An, single-handedly annihilated four top-tier experts: Dominion’s God Thirteen and God Fifteen, Blood Moon’s Skull Opener, and the Mamba Serpent from the Snake Den. Not a single one of this illustrious group managed to escape! Forced into a corner, the Dominion raised the bounty to five hundred million dollars.

That amounts to several billion yuan—profits that even medium-to-large companies struggle to achieve in a year.

With Dominion’s aggressive publicity, Jiang An was portrayed as a once-in-a-millennium prodigy, a rare genius of the world, seemingly omnipotent. Because of his extraordinary abilities, he was even given the nickname "the Demon," for what stands in opposition to god but the devil? His powers were publicized, and all available data was generously shared for the world to see. Instantly, Jiang An’s name began to spread far and wide.

Of course, such sensational news was met with both belief and skepticism, with most leaning toward disbelief. A grandmaster under thirty wiping out four seasoned veterans? Perhaps if he’d been besieged by the nation’s own elite, that might sound more plausible. Nevertheless, whether they believed it or not, the five hundred million dollar bounty was enough to make anyone’s heart race.

Naturally, this news did not travel swiftly; only the world’s most elite organizations were privy to it. The local powers of Lin City were nowhere near this echelon, and, moreover, someone in the capital had moved to suppress the news.

Lin City, Cherished Grace Company.

Today, the highest-level meeting was convened—every executive was required to attend. At nine in the morning, the conference room was filled with women of every temperament and charm, each face alight with anticipation as they awaited the arrival of Song Wanshuang.

Click, click, click.

Elegant footsteps echoed as the door swung open. Song Wanshuang entered with Xiaorong at her side, her cool beauty more radiant than ever after days away. Everyone noticed that their CEO seemed even more dazzling and spirited than before; even the women in the room found themselves captivated.

"Good morning, President Song," they all greeted her in unison.

Song Wanshuang got straight to the point. "Sister Zhao, how are things?"

No sooner had she spoken than a middle-aged woman in a white lab coat stood up, visibly excited, clutching a stack of documents. "President Song, it’s incredible! The beauty cream you provided is truly miraculous. We found three test subjects: one with burn scars, one with severe acne, and one whose complexion was dull and lifeless. After just two days of using the cream, they were transformed!"

As she spoke, she switched on the projector and displayed before-and-after photos of the three women. The room erupted in excitement—the results were simply astonishing!

Whether it was the woman marred by burns, the one plagued with acne, or the one whose aging skin betrayed her years, all three emerged from the trial with flawless, radiant beauty. The results were more effective than cosmetic surgery—better than Photoshop!

Song Wanshuang allowed herself a rare smile. Brother An had not disappointed her. A fierce ambition flared in her eyes; she radiated the commanding presence of an ancient empress. The crowd fell silent as she raised her voice:

"I trust you’ve all witnessed the extraordinary effects of this product. Therefore, I want every department to mobilize immediately—apply for all necessary permits, design advertisements, recruit additional personnel, and coordinate production logistics. All efforts must focus on this single product. From now on, we will not limit our vision to Lin City or the surrounding provinces. Our gaze is set on the world! I am confident we can surpass Bolai, Oya, and Dongmei to become the global leader in skincare!"

Thunderous applause broke out, every eye burning with the promise of a grand future.

"You are all company veterans, so I’ll speak candidly. The Green Ocean Group that invested in us two days ago actually belongs to my husband, so funding is not an issue. I plan to release a portion of shares for you all to participate—this is your due reward. The sample our R&D department analyzed was a concentrated formula—exceedingly rare. The final marketed product will be diluted threefold and tenfold, respectively. During the approval and facility renovation phases, we’ll stir up buzz for the product. I have someone in mind for our spokesperson: the superstar diva Wang Man!"

Five days later, in the Magic Metropolis.

Wang Man, the movie and music queen who had been in semi-retirement due to burn injuries, announced a press conference. Reporters from every major national portal swarmed the venue, expecting her to announce her official departure from the entertainment industry. Yet when she appeared, every journalist was stunned. Had time reversed itself? Wang Man, who had been scarred by an on-set accident, now stood before them with flawless skin. Not a trace of scarring remained, and her complexion was luminous—at thirty-something, she looked like a fresh-faced twenty-year-old, radiant with youth. Heavy makeup? She wore none at all.

The reporters surged forward, surrounding her as camera flashes burst like fireworks. Wang Man was used to such scenes and smiled sweetly into the sea of microphones.

"I invited you here today to tell you all that my face is healed, and I am officially returning to work. My first comeback project will be to endorse a miraculous new product!"

With that, she produced a beautifully designed red bottle and declared, "This is ‘Xi Shuang’ Beauty Emulsion, the latest from Cherished Grace Company in Lin City. My face is living proof of its wonders!"

The next day, every major entertainment page carried the story. Images of Wang Man cradling Xi Shuang’s elegant bottle were seen by millions. Most people were skeptical, but an even greater wave of publicity was about to break.

Cherished Grace Company organized product trial events in every major city, selecting five thousand participants for free trials and inviting media to document their progress daily. The results were jaw-dropping: within just days, every participant seemed to have a new face, their complexions dramatically improved. Before-and-after photos rocked the public’s very soul.

Middle-aged women became youthful maidens; ugly ducklings were transformed into swans—such miracles no longer seemed mere dreams.

What woman doesn’t love beauty? Confronted by Xi Shuang’s astonishing results, and after watching the visible transformation of five thousand users, who could remain unmoved? Cherished Grace Company then announced that, due to the rarity and value of the raw materials, the first batch of Xi Shuang Beauty Emulsion would only be available for online pre-order. Two versions were offered: the premium Xi Shuang at 9,999 yuan per bottle, limited to 100,000 units, and the standard Xi Shuang at 1,999 yuan, limited to 900,000 units, with a one-week unconditional money-back guarantee if ineffective.

Ten thousand yuan for a single premium bottle! Who could have imagined such a price? But there is no shortage of wealthy women willing to spend for beauty. The pre-orders opened online, and in less than three minutes, every slot was filled. Those who missed out wailed in frustration, but there was nothing to be done—they would have to wait for the next batch.

Xi Shuang was an instant sensation—an overnight phenomenon!

Everyone who used it had nothing but praise, flaunting their results on social media and catapulting the product to legendary status. Fashion and beauty magazines ran special features on Xi Shuang, driving those who missed out into a frenzy. It was said that Cherished Grace’s hundred phone lines rang non-stop around the clock, flooded with calls from consumers and distributors nationwide, all desperate to buy the product—at any price!

The Magic Metropolis, Bolai Greater China Headquarters.

In a spacious, brightly-lit conference room, rows of men and women in suits sat in silence. At the head of the table, a handsome, dignified middle-aged man lounged in his chair, fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the tabletop, surveying his elite team. No one dared speak; the atmosphere was stifling.

"President Pan! The analysis is complete!"

Suddenly, the conference room doors burst open as a man rushed in, exclaiming loudly.

"Well? What are the ingredients?" President Pan asked.

"Xi Shuang’s formula shares ninety-two percent of its components with high-end skincare products on the market, but the remaining eight percent is unidentifiable. Its mechanism expels toxins from cells and pores, hydrates the skin, and has zero side effects—it’s practically miraculous!"

Seeing his own R&D chief so enraptured, President Pan could only sigh. "Can you replicate the formula?" he pressed.

"It’s extremely difficult! We’ve tried countless methods, but can’t achieve the same results. The crucial secret eludes us."

President Pan had not truly expected much, but after a moment’s thought, he gritted his teeth and declared, "Send someone in, bribe if you must—by any means necessary, I want that Xi Shuang formula!"

Similar scenes played out in boardrooms of rival companies.

Commercial competition was a brutal affair. Normally, the major firms had countless ways to crush a small company’s product, but Xi Shuang was simply too extraordinary—a product of a new era. No matter the condition or type of skin, the outcome was always the same: delicate, fair beauty. How could other products compete? It was like the phone market: while everyone else was still making basic handsets, someone had just released a full-screen smartphone—a nuclear-level leap. Any consumer with the means would know which way the wind was blowing.

And there was another factor: rumor had it that the Green Ocean Group backing Cherished Grace held immense sway in both legal and illegal spheres, rendering even underhanded tactics useless.

If you couldn’t seize it, you’d have to steal it.

Yet, curiously, the spies dispatched by these companies discovered that security at Cherished Grace’s factory was not as tight as expected. The seasoned operatives easily acquired samples of the production concentrate, and some even filmed the manufacturing process. They returned triumphant, their companies gleefully racing to copy the product—only to find that their replicas were no different from ordinary market offerings.

Where was the promised miracle? What crucial step was missing?

While other companies were left tearing their hair out in frustration, a grand gathering was about to take place at Villa No. 1, Shanhe Residence, Lin City.