The New Battlefield

Yuanlong Technology, top-floor conference room.

Lu Chenyuan, Lin Yuan, Ren Qian, and several department heads were all seated.

Lu Chenyuan glanced unintentionally at Lin Yuan and Ren Qian, noticing that their seating arrangement seemed more coordinated than usual.

However, the atmosphere in the conference room today was particularly solemn.

"This is the latest report from the Pangu Lab."

Lu Chenyuan gently pushed a document to the center of the table.

"Su Yang and Ruo Xi's team has successfully developed a new natural language processing model, which they’ve named 'Nuwa.'"

A flicker of excitement passed through the eyes of the executives present.

Pangu Lab was the company’s key investment project, and any breakthrough would benefit everyone.

"But," Lu Chenyuan’s tone shifted, "'Nuwa' has hit a bottleneck."

"Computing power."

He uttered the two words.

"It’s too massive. Our current computational architecture can’t support its commercial operation."

The brief moment of joy was instantly replaced by tension.

Everyone understood what this meant.

A technology that couldn’t be applied would lose most of its value.

"So," Lu Chenyuan’s gaze swept across the room, his voice calm yet firm, "I’ve decided to gradually shift Yuanlong Technology’s strategic focus."

"Starting today, artificial intelligence will no longer be a supplementary business."

"In the near future, it will become the core driver of all our industries—whether it’s the 'Boundless' cars or biomedical ventures."

The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was stunned by the weight of Lu Chenyuan’s words.

This meant Yuanlong Technology would transform from a hardware and systems integration company into a higher-dimensional, algorithm-driven tech empire.

It was a gamble.

Win, and the sky would be the limit.

Lose, and it would be catastrophic.

"To achieve this goal," Lu Chenyuan continued,

"I’ve decided that Yuanlong Technology will officially participate in this year’s World Artificial Intelligence Competition, WAIC."

"Boom—"

The news exploded like a bombshell in the conference room.

WAIC.

The pinnacle of global artificial intelligence.

Where all the international giants showcased their most cutting-edge technologies.

Yuanlong Technology, a company barely two years old, was going to challenge those titans?

"The team representing us will be from Pangu Lab."

"Led by Lu Ruoxi and Su Yang."

Lin Yuan’s heart tightened.

He knew better than anyone the current state of Pangu Lab.

Sending a team that hadn’t even solved their computing power bottleneck to a world-stage competition?

Wasn’t this setting them up for public humiliation?

"President Lu, isn’t this too rushed?" Lin Yuan couldn’t help but speak up. "Their model isn’t mature yet."

"That’s exactly why I’m doing it," Lu Chenyuan’s reply was unexpected.

"Great trees don’t grow in greenhouses. Only by throwing them into the fiercest battlefield can they grow at the fastest pace."

His gaze turned sharp and profound.

"This competition serves two purposes."

"First, to train the team. Let them see firsthand where the world’s top-tier technology stands and where the gaps are. Losing doesn’t matter. Finding the right direction is everything."

"Second, to elevate our brand. I want the world to remember the name 'Yuanlong.' We don’t just build cars—we define the future."

Lu Chenyuan stood and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the city.

"Lin Yuan, Ren Qian."

"Yes," they responded immediately.

"From now on, Pangu Lab’s budget has no ceiling. They’ll get whatever personnel and equipment they need."

"Your task is to remove every obstacle in their way."

"Understood!"

...

Jingzhou University, Pangu Lab.

Su Yang stared at the WAIC official website on his computer screen, momentarily stunned.

"Director Lin, you’re not joking, are you?"

He almost doubted what he was seeing.

"President Lu’s decision," Lin Yuan placed a red-stamped document bearing Yuanlong Technology’s seal in front of him. "The company will fully support you."

"But... but our 'Nuwa' hasn’t even solved the computing power issue! Competing now would be tough!" Su Yang’s voice was agitated.

Beside him, Lu Ruoxi remained calm.

She picked up the document and read it carefully.

"Big brother must have his reasons," she said.

Her voice, as always, was cool yet carried a soothing reassurance.

She looked at Su Yang. "You’re right. Our current technical architecture is a dead end."

"But the competition is still three months away."

"That’s enough time for us to find a new path."

Su Yang stared at her blankly.

At her clear, confident eyes that never wavered.

His restless heart inexplicably calmed.

Right.

If President Lu was willing to take this gamble,

what did he have to fear?

"I understand." Su Yang took a deep breath, his eyes reigniting with determination. "Fine, computing power it is. We’ll redesign the architecture from scratch!"

"Good," Lu Ruoxi nodded.

Lin Yuan watched the two young people before him—one brimming with a techie’s stubbornness, the other possessing a composure beyond her years.

Suddenly, he understood Lu Chenyuan’s intention.

This wasn’t just a competition.

It was a trial by fire for future leaders.

Meanwhile.

Qin Corporation, top floor.

Li Jinchuan placed a thick proposal in front of Qin Ya.

Over the past year, he had vanished from the public eye.

Using Qin Ya’s funds, he had acquired a battery technology research institute in Europe, quietly transferring all patents and core engineers to an offshore shell company under his name.

He had executed it flawlessly.

"This is my plan," Li Jinchuan’s voice was steadier than a year ago. "Lu Chenyuan’s 'Boundless' cars have one major advantage—their autonomous driving system. We can’t surpass that in the short term."

"But a car is made of tens of thousands of components. His supply chain is his greatest vulnerability."

"I’ve investigated. He relies heavily on three core suppliers for batteries, motors, and chassis. All three have shaky financials."

His plan was ruthless and precise.

Through price wars, talent poaching, and hostile takeovers, he would target these three suppliers.

Taking down even one would leave Lu Chenyuan’s super factory at risk of supply chain collapse—even if it was completed.

It was a classic, old-school business tactic.

Using capital and market dominance to strike from above.

Qin Ya flipped through the proposal, her eyes gleaming with approval.

"Solid plan. Ruthless and straightforward."

Just then, a news alert popped up on her tablet.

Yuanlong Technology announces AI ambitions, will compete in WAIC with 'Nuwa' model

Qin Ya’s gaze froze.

She turned the tablet toward Li Jinchuan.

Li Jinchuan's pupils constricted sharply as he read the news headline.

Lu Chenyuan!

He had already set his sights on a higher-dimensional battlefield.

"Seems your old rival doesn’t even consider you a threat," Qin Ya remarked, her tone laced with amusement.

"He’s busy laying the groundwork for AI, while you’re still here figuring out how to change his tires."

Li Jinchuan’s expression darkened.

He knew all too well the gap between them.

But he forced himself to stay composed.

"This is our chance!" Li Jinchuan said firmly. "With his focus tied up in AI, his defenses will be weak. Now’s the perfect moment to strike!"

Recommend Series

Getting Rejected Makes Me Stronger

Getting Rejected Makes Me Stronger

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

The Bullet Chat Claims I’m Devoted, While I Level Up With My Alt Accounts

The Bullet Chat Claims I’m Devoted, While I Level Up With My Alt Accounts

e, Immortal Body, Transmigration, System, Progression Fantasy, Academy Setting, Third-Person Perspective. Alternate Title: Transmigrating into a High Martial World and Reading Live Comments. Bad news: I transmigrated. This is a terrifying high-martial world, and my original, pathetically weak body fell into a coma and never woke up. Good news: I got a Popularity Points system upon arrival. I can see live comments and even create an unkillable alternate identity. Starting out, the alternate identity has all stats at 1. The system tells me that to grow stronger, I must participate in the plot, gain popularity points to allocate stats and grow stronger, and ultimately awaken my original body. And so, carrying my original body on my back, I officially entered Huaqing Academy, where the story's protagonist resides. From that moment on, Chen Guan kicked the original plot to pieces. Live Comments: [Doesn't anyone find this mysterious coffin guy creepy? He can summon indescribable grey misty hands.] [Is this guy a hero or a villain? What kind of onion became a spirit?] [By the way, does anyone know who's in the coffin? Shouldn't the debt for saving his life be repaid by now?] [According to unofficial histories, the person in the coffin was Chen Guan's first love. Their love was once passionate and earth-shattering, but they were separated by life and death due to worldly circumstances. What a star-crossed pair.] ... Years later, the world knew of a demon god born from a coffin, shrouded in grey mist, impossible to gaze upon directly. His foremost divine emissary often wielded a scythe, reaping lives like the god of death. As war approached, facing former friends and a boundless sea of enemies, Chen Guan merely raised his scythe. "Would you like to dance as well?"

Transmigrated into the Villain, My Inner Thoughts Were Overheard by the Female Lead

Transmigrated into the Villain, My Inner Thoughts Were Overheard by the Female Lead

. As long as he maintains the villain image and follows the plot to the grand finale, he can obtain generous rewards and return to the real world. So Gu Chen'an entered the role and began to act as a scumbag villain, but who would have expected that the female leads could hear his inner thoughts. Miss Su from the Su family was shocked: "I originally thought Gu Chen'an was a scumbag, but I didn't expect he turned out to be a gentleman! What? You said I have to call off the engagement? I definitely won't, I'll piss you off!" Bai Yuan Tian was dumbfounded: "Young Master Gu is usually unreasonable and a complete brat, but he actually calls me little sweetie in his heart? What, Young Master Gu even said he likes me?" As the female leads' images collapsed more and more, the plot also collapsed with it. Gu Chen'an looked at all this chaos. "Ladies, don't aggro me, if you keep this up the male lead really will stab me, I still need to survive to the grand finale!"

Just Became Emperor, Already Assassinated by the Son of Destiny

Just Became Emperor, Already Assassinated by the Son of Destiny

e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.