For most of the past year, Cao Cheng had been busy with helmet development and the creation of a new game.
During this time, he also participated in numerous lotteries, acquiring many new technologies.
However, none of these were integrated into the core of the virtual world.
For instance, one of the technologies allowed people to play games in their dreams.
Simply put, it involved using a gaming pod where users could simulate sleep while their brains remained active in gaming or learning.
After playing all night, they would wake up the next morning feeling refreshed, as if they had slept, yet having spent the entire night learning.
It could even enable workers to labor tirelessly for 24 hours a day.
This technology would undoubtedly thrill capitalists.
But...
Such advanced technology was too groundbreaking to reveal.
How could something like this be made public?
Although...
Releasing it would make the gaming helmets even more impressive, drive up their price, and potentially make humanity utterly dependent on them.
But the consequences would be undeniable.
Fewer people would engage in real-life activities.
Businesses in the physical world would struggle more.
Those who worked or studied would no longer step outside after returning home—everything would happen in the game.
This would severely disrupt the functioning of society.
The problem would trigger a chain reaction.
It might even completely alter the fabric of society.
And it could lead to other unforeseen issues.
So,
Cao Cheng wouldn’t release this technology—at least not yet. The timing wasn’t right.
Such advancements were better suited for the era of space exploration.
Since Cao Cheng withheld this technology, gamers still experienced fatigue.
They needed breaks after playing for a while.
After all, reality remained the primary way of life; the virtual world couldn’t replace it.
......
Meanwhile,
Cao Cheng shipped nearly 100,000 units of equipment to the military every month.
Most were helmets.
Less than 1% were gaming pods.
The price difference was significant—a hundredfold gap.
Four months later,
A second factory was completed.
Production capacity multiplied.
Within the next two months, a multi-billion-dollar contract was fulfilled.
The remaining time was spent stockpiling inventory.
And right around this time,
International tensions arose, just as Old Taishan had predicted, but everything remained under control.
Cao Cheng didn’t need to worry about global affairs; his role was simply to supply the chips.
He had factories.
And technology.
He had prepared long ago.
Most of the technology wasn’t from system lotteries but acquired through the Eternal Life Club’s channels—such as lithography machines...
......
By the end of the year,
The game’s existence was exposed.
It couldn’t be kept secret any longer.
Of course,
Cao Cheng had mentally prepared for this.
After all, over half a million people had already used the gaming helmets.
Among them were his own security personnel—a group he could trust.
There were also many company employees, whose loyalty wasn’t in question.
But with so many people having families, occasional leaks were inevitable.
Then there were the soldiers.
Most were undoubtedly loyal.
But with such a large number of users, secrecy was hard to maintain.
Consider this: Even under these circumstances, the game had a daily active user count of nearly a million.
And the total number of helmets distributed or sold was just over a million.
Among the soldiers, initially, one helmet was often shared by two or three people.
Especially early on, when helmets were scarce, most soldiers had to wait in line, watching and hoping for their turn.
Later, as helmet and gaming pod production increased, most soldiers eventually had their own—standard issue.
Distribution followed a strict order: frontline troops first, then second-line units, then third-line, and so on.
So,
The user base grew increasingly diverse.
Even among soldiers, while many appeared loyal, who knew what some truly thought?
That the helmet’s existence remained hidden for six months was already beyond expectations.
Cao Cheng and Old Taishan had estimated leaks within two or three months.
Delaying it twice as long was a remarkable achievement.
It proved... that most of our people were truly dependable!
......
......
Once the news broke, Cao Cheng immediately traveled to the capital to meet with Old Taishan.
A few meetings followed—mostly formalities.
Then, in collaboration with various stakeholders, he co-founded two tech companies, contributing mainly through technology shares.
After that, Cao Cheng stepped back, leaving management to others while he waited for dividends.
Of course,
These two companies had nothing to do with the helmets—they focused on chip-related ventures.
Once everything was settled, Old Taishan privately summoned Cao Cheng to discuss the helmet situation.
"Intelligence intercepted just two days ago..."
Old Taishan handed Cao Cheng a file.
Without ceremony, Cao Cheng skimmed through it.
The document contained intel from operatives stationed abroad.
Information flowed freely overseas—their defenses were full of holes, like a sieve.
Aside from a few highly secure locations, operatives could usually obtain whatever they wanted with minimal effort.
So,
Once foreign forces got wind of the gaming helmets, rumors spread like wildfire. The operatives embedded there couldn’t miss it.
But these operatives were sharp.
Seeing no public discussions or online leaks about the helmets, they immediately recognized it as classified intel from their homeland.
That very night, the operative compiled a detailed report and sent it back.
After two more days of digging, the file was complete.
......
The report was clear:
Foreign entities, after months of investigation, had confirmed that soldiers in the Eastern District were all using gaming helmets.
From the intel they gathered, they knew quite a bit.
They knew the game used neural feedback for training.
That it enhanced real-world combat skills and physical capabilities.
Exactly how much it improved individual combat effectiveness remained unclear—no precise data yet.
But,
Based on intel from their moles, they were certain the gaming helmet was a revolutionary invention.
Its emergence could change everything.
Additionally,
Foreign forces had traced the technology back to the gaming division of Miracle Group.
In other words, the mastermind behind the gaming helmet was—Cao Cheng!
The target was identified.
Yet no one had made a move against him—whether through force or subtle recruitment, they held back for now.

] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"

rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!

shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."