Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 689: The Failed Expansion, The Person who Sabotages from Within_1

Over the course of seven years, Wang Linchi's Ascension Plan proceeded smoothly. On the contrary, Hu Da's expansion plan for the Qiandao Realm progressed so little that one could say it barely moved at all; an incredible amount of resources were burned with no gains to show for it. Apart from the large deficit spent every year, there were no other benefits. The consequence was clear: the Qiandao Realm expansion plan increasingly faced opposition from everyone.

Initially, compared to Wang Linchi's ambitious and brutal Ascension Plan, the expansion plan was naturally more acceptable. But things aren't absolute. When long-term investment yielded no returns and even harmed their own interests, the outcome was obvious. No one wants to keep giving without receiving any reward. Even the most devoted admirer needs a timely word from their 'goddess' as encouragement. However, the expansion plan offered no feedback, and the entire Virtue Giant Clan was being treated like an ATM—something no one could accept.

As the one leading it, Hu Da was at his wit's end.

"Wang, do you think I was wrong to carry out the expansion plan in the first place?" Hu Da said, sounding exhausted.

In these seven years, he had been searching for a way to expand the Qiandao Realm and avoid a population explosion, but his efforts were all in vain. If he had found a solution, the expansion plan wouldn't be facing such universal opposition.

"Who knows? Without practice, how can you know if the outcome is right or wrong?" Wang Linchi comforted, while currently welding.

It wasn't that he had nothing to do; he was making a Plasma Spark Tower. Since he was idle anyway, and the provided resources were quite good, Wang Linchi at least wouldn't have to resort to the explosive impact propulsion method to make the Qiandao Realm collide with the Green Nether World. Among engine propulsion methods, he chose the Plasma Spark Tower. After all, even Ultraman had one, so it was perfectly normal for him to reverse-engineer a copy.

There was no need to worry about being sued by the Land of Light. Theirs was the 'Plasma Spark, Tower,' while Wang Linchi's was the 'Plasma... Spark Tower'—a subtle distinction. It was probably like the difference between the 'Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms' and the 'Ten Subduing Dragon Palms.'

When it comes to making knock-offs, I'm very conscious of avoiding copyright issues, Wang Linchi thought.

"So, you're saying I didn't do anything wrong?" Hu Da perked up. What he needed now was affirmation, especially from Wang Linchi, the leader of the Ascension Plan.

"Ah? I was just comforting you. Don't take it seriously," Wang Linchi retorted. I was just being polite; how could this kid take it seriously?

"..." Hu Da felt that Wang Linchi's words were incredibly hurtful. How could he say something like that to my face?

"What? Can't accept it?" Wang Linchi said with a smile.

Hu Da nodded, wishing Wang Linchi had phrased it a bit more gently.

Wang Linchi, however, suddenly dropped his smile, his expression turning serious. "If you had achieved even a little in all these years, it might have justified the resources spent. But you have nothing to show for it. How can you still claim you weren't wrong?"

Actually, Hu Da wasn't without opportunities for success; after all, the Qiandao Realm itself was still trying to find a way to save itself. Unfortunately, with a menace like Wang Linchi around, any chance of success was doomed to fail from the start. It was precisely because Wang Linchi had been meddling behind the scenes that seven years had passed without the slightest gain.

"This... Sigh..." Hu Da sighed. He felt Wang Linchi was right. After all these years, watching the other Merit Giants go from supporters to opponents, he was well aware of the situation. If all those resources had been put into Wang Linchi's Ascension Plan, it might have already succeeded instead of only being halfway complete. Not only did I drag down the Ascension Plan, but I also made the clan endure so much hardship for so many years for nothing.

"But you can't take all the blame," Wang Linchi said, seeing Hu Da's dejected state and offering another attempt at consolation. "After all, both the Ascension Plan and the expansion plan had uncertain outcomes."

"At most, you bear ninety-nine percent of the responsibility. The remaining one percent is on me. If I hadn't mentioned it in the first place, you wouldn't have stubbornly insisted on trying." Wang Linchi even magnanimously took a sliver of the blame.

This made Hu Da almost break down. "Wang, if you don't know how to comfort someone, you really don't have to say anything." Hu Da listened, feeling quite hurt. Wang Linchi's words were just too cutting.

"I am trying my best to comfort you. But the mess you've made is so bad, even I don't know how to console you," Wang Linchi continued, twisting the knife.

How could I not know how to comfort someone? I just find this amusing. The simplest method would be to inject Hu Da with a cocktail of drugs: Spirit-Warming Concoctions, Mood-Elevating Hormones, Thought-Optimizing Elixirs, and so on. Forget mere unhappiness; even if his parents died violently, his wife cuckolded him, his child turned out not to be his, he got fired, fell into massive debt, and was utterly humiliated on top of it all—these drugs would make him laugh through it. This little setback of his is nothing. I, Wang Linchi, pride myself on being considerate. I know this isn't the kind of happiness Hu Da wants. So, I plan to let him suffer for a while. If he truly can't bear it psychologically, then I'll give him the injections. Otherwise, how could I call myself a Righteous Path knight-errant? Such 'thoughtfulness' is one of the qualities a knight-errant must possess.

"Ah, this..." Hu Da felt that Wang Linchi was certainly being frank; he just wished that frankness wasn't directed at him.

"Are you free today? Did you specifically come to me to complain?" Wang Linchi asked.

"No, I intend to terminate the expansion plan. Wang, what are your thoughts on this?" Hu Da's expression turned serious; he was clearly here on important business. Since the expansion plan had yielded no results, continuing it would not only be futile but also incur more meaningless expenses. Therefore, shutting it down was the best option.

"My thoughts? I'll just stand by and watch," Wang Linchi replied. Initially, he had genuinely wished Hu Da would stop. Later, however, he had become more supportive of its continuation. Firstly, it could further weaken the Qiandao Realm. Secondly, as long as the resources remained tied up within the Qiandao Realm (like meat stewing in a pot, ensuring it doesn't go elsewhere), it was ultimately more beneficial than detrimental to Wang Linchi, so he hadn't interfered. He hadn't expected Hu Da to bring up terminating it himself. Still, to hold out for seven years is quite something. If I were in Hu Da's position, without a high chance of success, I would have given up or shelved the project within two years at most and tried a different approach.

"Wang, are you saying you'll let me make my own decision?" Hu Da understood Wang Linchi's meaning. He knew Wang Linchi's stance on the expansion plan had always been neutral: he wouldn't object if Hu Da wanted to proceed, nor would he urge him to stop if he decided to halt it.

"Exactly. I'm not the one in charge, so why ask me?" Wang Linchi's reasoning was sound; he wouldn't interfere. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Well, it does concern you somewhat, Wang. After the expansion plan is shut down, guess where the remaining funds and resources will be allocated?" Hu Da teased. It was obvious they would be channeled into Wang Linchi's Ascension Plan. That was why he wanted Wang Linchi's support to terminate the expansion plan. Significant interests were tied to the expansion plan; shutting it down on his own authority wouldn't be easy. Therefore, he needed someone with enough clout to help, and Wang Linchi, the Lingyuan Hermit, certainly had the necessary influence.

"Your idea is good, but you're being too naive," Wang Linchi said, not optimistic about Hu Da's chances. "The expansion plan isn't like my Ascension Plan, which involves fewer people. The vested interests in the expansion plan are far more complex, particularly concerning the construction of the Merit Spark Tower. Don't even dream of a clean break; you'll be lucky to salvage half."

"I know. And that half would require your backing, Wang. Otherwise, we'd be fortunate to recover even a tenth," Hu Da said in a low voice. He was well and truly trapped. Fortunately, Wang Linchi's words implied he agreed, so the purpose of his visit had been achieved.

"Then I'll wait for your news," Wang Linchi replied. The main person to carry this out would undoubtedly be Hu Da, not Wang Linchi.

"Great!" Hu Da's heart settled upon hearing this. "Then I'll get to work."

"Go on," Wang Linchi said. Hu Da then departed.

After Hu Da left, Wang Linchi chuckled to himself, muttering, "Heh, even Iron Man nearly died shutting down his company's profitable weapons division. Your situation is far more complicated than that."

The Virtue Giant Clan members aren't a bunch of saintly Ultramen, after all. Each of them has their own desires and emotions. So, it won't be easy for Hu Da to terminate the expansion plan.

Huh? Why is someone descending to the Lower Realm again? Has Hao Rui's matter been exposed? Their reaction is quite slow; it's taken them this long to investigate.