After becoming invincible after descending the mountain, the aloof and beautiful CEO couldn't s

A week before the decisive battle, Su Hao announced that he would go into seclusion.

He chose a secret room in the basement of the Yunxi Bay villa as his place of seclusion.

The room is small, only a dozen square meters, with thick concrete walls on all four sides, providing excellent sound insulation.

The secret room contained only a dim lamp, a futon, and a pot of water.

Su Hao sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes, and began to circulate the True Dragon Qi within his body.

He needs to get himself into peak condition within these seven days.

The door to the secret room was locked from the outside.

Su Hao had instructed that no one was allowed to disturb him during these seven days.

He would take care of his eating, drinking, and relieving himself in the secret room.

Standing outside the secret chamber, Li Qiuchan could vaguely sense the faint fluctuations of energy emanating from within through the heavy iron door.

She knew that Su Hao was making his final push inside.

Li Qiuchan felt both heartache and worry.

For the past month, she has watched Su Hao work tirelessly from dawn till dusk, trying to integrate various forces, and she wanted to help but had nowhere to do so.

Su Hao always wore a calm and confident smile.

But she knew how much pressure lay behind that smile.

Li Qiuchan gently stroked the cold iron gate, whispering, "Su Hao... you must do your best..."

Inside the sealed room, wisps of white mist rose above Su Hao's head.

A faint golden light flowed across the surface of his body.

The light sometimes shone brightly, sometimes dimmed, as if it were pulsating with his breath.

Within Su Hao's body, the True Dragon Qi was circulating at an unprecedented speed.

With each cycle of circulation, his meridians would widen slightly, his muscles and bones would be tempered, and his true energy would become more refined.

Three days have passed.

Five days have passed.

On the sixth day, as the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the basement vent, the door to the secret room slowly opened.

Su Hao walked out of the secret room.

His appearance hasn't changed at all; he still looks young.

But his temperament has undergone a complete transformation.

If Su Hao before his seclusion was a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, its edge fully revealed.

So now he is like a precious blade hidden in its sheath, restrained and profound, yet containing an even more terrifying power.

Su Hao's gaze was calm as water, yet deep as an abyss.

It's as if one can see through all the illusions of the world at a glance.

Standing outside the secret chamber, Li Qiuchan's eyes immediately welled up with tears when she saw him emerge.

She quickly stepped forward, wanting to say something, but found herself unable to utter a word, only able to hug him tightly.

Su Hao reached out and put his arm around Li Qiuchan's waist, gently patting her back, and said in a tender tone, "I'm fine."

Li Qiuchan buried her head in his shoulder, her voice choked with emotion: "You've lost weight."

Su Hao smiled and said, "Seclusion is normal."

Li Qiuchan released him, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, then looked at him seriously and said, "Are you confident about tomorrow's decisive battle?"

Su Hao looked into her concerned eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Yes."

He didn't say much, but the word "yes" was spoken with absolute certainty, without the slightest hesitation.

Li Qiuchan nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

She turned and went into the kitchen to start preparing breakfast for Su Hao.

Su Hao stood by the window, gazing at the gradually brightening sky in the distance, a profound light flashing in his eyes.

Tomorrow is the day of the decisive battle.

At the summit of Xishan Mountain in Beijing, he will settle things with Shi Lezhi.

Su Hao clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it.

He was prepared for whatever the outcome.

After breakfast, Su Hao convened a meeting.

The core members of the forces that were on his side all came to participate.

The meeting was simple: after the decisive battle tomorrow to kill Shi Lezhi, all the forces present must take over Shi Lezhi's territory as quickly as possible.

After the meeting, everyone had lunch together.

Then, in the afternoon, everyone went to the capital in batches to begin preparations.

In the evening, Su Hao and Li Qiuchan and other women had hot pot together.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, without any pressure at all.

It was already 9 p.m. when they finished eating. Considering the decisive battle tomorrow, the women all rested and recuperated, waiting to get up early the next morning to go with Su Hao.

Just as Su Hao finished showering and was about to rest, Li Qiuchan barged in.

"Su Hao, I went to see Senior Sister Zhan Xi'er. She told me everything—about the True Dragon Tribulation, about your three masters, and about everything you are about to face."

Su Hao was silent for a moment: "So what you mean is?"

Li Qiuchan stood up, walked to him, and said with a firm gaze, "I possess the Phoenix Body and can help you overcome your tribulation. Not only will I be able to help you pass the True Dragon Tribulation, but I can also greatly enhance your combat power."

Su Hao looked up at her: "Have you thought this through?"

He and Shen Qingci had already had a relationship, so the True Dragon Tribulation was postponed for three months.

However, if Li Qiuchan helps him overcome the tribulation, the tribulation will be completely resolved, and he will be able to unleash his full combat power.

Li Qiuchan reached out and cupped Su Hao's face, whispering, "I'm your wife, of course I have to help you. Besides, with so many women around you, if I don't act like the rightful wife, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep a place in your heart in the future."

Looking into her clear and determined eyes, Su Hao felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He reached out and pulled Li Qiuchan into his arms, whispering in her ear, "Silly girl."

The two fell asleep in each other's arms, enjoying a tender night together.

The next morning.

Su Hao opened his eyes and felt that the true dragon energy that had been suppressed within his body had been completely released.

His abilities reached a whole new level overnight.

Li Qiuchan was woken up by him, and her face turned slightly red when she remembered what happened last night.

"You big scoundrel, you don't know how to be gentle with women at all."

"Sorry, it was my problem."

Su Hao gently kissed Li Qiuchan on the forehead, then got up and began packing his things.

When the time came, he took the women on a private jet to Xishan.

......

The decisive battle on the main peak of Xishan took place at 3 PM.

The entire Xishan mountain range was sealed off, and ordinary people were prohibited from approaching within a ten-mile radius.

The double blockade lines of the Military Affairs Department and the Inspection Department stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the mountainside, with a fully armed inspection team member standing with a gun every ten meters.

Three patrol airships belonging to the Martial Division circled and stood guard in the air. The bottom of the airships was engraved with complex defensive arrays. Once any abnormal movement was detected, a full-scale attack could be launched immediately.

The viewing platform at the foot of the mountain and both sides of the winding mountain road were crowded with top figures from all over China.

Looking around, there was a dense crowd of people, roughly estimated to be no less than three thousand.

Among these people were the heads of martial arts families, high-ranking officials from various departments of the imperial court, business tycoons, and reclusive old monsters.

Normally, any one of them would be a figure who could shake the world with a stomp of their foot, but today they have all gathered here to witness a peak showdown that could change the landscape of China.

The crowd spontaneously divided into several areas according to their respective positions and camps.

To the left of the observation deck, a group of people with a deep-seated grudge against Shi Lezhi were gathered.

Gui Haiyi and Wu Xiaoming stood side by side.

Guihai Yidao was dressed in a gray outfit, with a narrow long sword at his waist. His eyes were like torches as he stared intently at the entrance to the mountain path.

Wu Xiaoming crossed his arms, his face grave, and said in a low voice, "If Deputy Director Su is defeated today, the Jiangnan branch of the Wu Division will likely be completely wiped out. Once Shi Lezhi has freed up his hands, the first thing he'll do is settle accounts with us."

Guihai Yidao nodded slowly, his voice low: "So we can only pin our hopes on Su Hao. If he wins, the Jiangnan Martial Division can turn things around; if he loses, none of us will escape."

Not far away, Ma Fei, the head of the Ma family, and his daughter Ma Xinran stood side by side.

Ma Fei's face was gloomy. For many years, Shi Lezhi had been secretly suppressing the Ma family's business channels and seizing resources, causing the Ma family heavy losses.

Ma Xinran clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filled with both worry and anticipation.

She was worried about Su Hao's safety, and also hoped that the Shi family would fall so that the Ma family could be completely free from their constraints.

Duan Yu, the master of the Jinling Duan Family Martial Arts School, and his daughter Duan Shandie stood at the edge of the crowd. Duan Yu's expression was not good either. Behind the previous incidents involving Kawashima-ryu and the Thousand Hand Ninja, Shi Lezhi had been secretly supporting them, and the Duan Family Martial Arts School had been harassed by the Shi family's forces many times.

Duan Shandie clenched her fists the whole time, her eyes fixed on the entrance to the mountain path, with only one thought in her mind.

Su Hao, you must win!

Qin Shou of the Qin family and his friend Chen Li stood on the outside of the crowd, whispering to each other that if Su Hao won, they would immediately take back all the industrial chains controlled by the Shi family.

Qin Shou lowered his voice and said, "I've already contacted several suppliers. As soon as the Shi family falls, their channels can be taken over immediately." Chen Li nodded, "Me too. The Shi family has dominated the Jiangnan business world for too long; it's time for them to step down."

In the center of the observation deck, there is the established force that remains neutral and observing.

Gong Chang, the chairman of Jinling Martial Arts, stood at the forefront, holding a thick notebook and a pen, ready to record the moves of the two top experts.

He came purely with the intention of observing a top-level ancient martial arts battle; he didn't take sides, and he would befriend whoever won.

The heads of several martial arts families from various provinces nearby whispered among themselves, constantly speculating about the outcome of the match between the two.

Some people marveled that it was rare for Su Hao, who was only in his early twenties, to be able to contend with a veteran powerhouse like Shi Lezhi; others lamented that he was too young and lacked a solid foundation, and that a direct confrontation would surely result in his death.

Some mid-level civil officials from the capital and local officials from various regions also attended. They were forced to come by the situation and dared not openly take sides. They simply watched silently, pondering how to adjust their positions in the court after the war.

On the far right of the observation deck are the affiliated forces of Shi Lezhi.

Business tycoons from all over the country and martial arts masters who were affiliated with the Shi family gathered here. Their faces were tense, and they encouraged each other in private, but they could not hide the panic in their hearts.

Everyone knew that once Shi Lezhi was defeated, their businesses and martial arts influence would be completely wiped out by the Martial Division.

The remaining ninja leader of the Senju clan was hidden in the shadows of the crowd, wearing a straw hat with the brim pulled low.

All of the Thousand Hands Clan's actions depended on Shi Lezhi paving the way in the imperial court. Today, he staked the fate of the entire clan on this. He kept a close eye on the mountain path, ready to flee overseas at any time should Shi Lezhi be defeated.

The entire observation deck was noisy with people, and various discussions were taking place.

Some people remarked that Shi Lezhi had been lying low for decades, and his profound knowledge and experience were unmatched.

Some people also lamented that Su Hao was too young and lacked a solid foundation, and that a direct confrontation would surely lead to his demise.

The feuding faction secretly hoped that Su Hao would overthrow the Shi family's hegemony, while the neutral bigwigs repeatedly weighed the bargaining chips of both sides. With everyone's thoughts intertwined, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Everyone knows that today's battle will rewrite the dual structure of China's superpowers and the imperial court.

Just then, the roar of an engine came from the winding mountain road in the distance.

Everyone's eyes turned in unison towards the direction from which the sound came.

A row of black SUVs belonging to the Takeshi family slowly drove up and stopped inside the blockade.

The car door opened, and a figure stepped out first.

Su Hao was dressed in a plain-colored martial arts outfit, without any unnecessary decorations, simple and neat.

His temperament was gentle and refined, yet he possessed a hidden, formidable sharpness, like a peerless sword sheathed in its sheath. Though unsheathed, its sharp sword aura was already palpable.

Immediately afterwards, Li Qiuchan stepped out of the car from the other side. She was wearing a simple business suit, and her expression showed undisguised worry.

Song Xiaoxiao clung tightly to Li Qiuchan's arm, her palms sweating profusely.

Zhan Xier then got out of the car, dressed in the uniform of a military officer. Her expression was calm and composed, and she was always on guard against any potential ambush. Her sharp eyes swept over everyone present, as if she wanted to see all the potential threats.

Zhao Silu, Duan Shandie, and Ma Xinran followed closely behind. These women, who had countless connections with Su Hao, were all present today. Their faces showed different expressions, but more than anything, they showed their trust in Su Hao.

The moment the convoy stopped, the entire viewing platform fell silent.

All the discussions abruptly ceased, and thousands of eyes were fixed on Su Hao and his group, as if trying to see right through them.

Then, the crowd erupted into another round of heated discussion.

"This is Su Hao? Secretary Shi's biological son? He's only in his early twenties, yet his aura is so imposing!" A neutral civil official exclaimed in a low voice.

"No wonder he could kill Hong Ba with three punches. His composure alone is something that ordinary people can't match," another official chimed in.

Gui Haiyi said to Wu Xiaoming in a low voice, "The deputy director is really uninhibited today. It seems he intends to settle his score with Shi Lezhi once and for all."

Wu Xiaoming nodded: "After today, either the Shi family will be destroyed, or we will all perish with them. There is no third way."

The leader of the Thousand Hands Ninjas, hidden among the crowd, had a murderous glint in his eyes. He secretly planned to seize the opportunity to ambush and kill Su Hao if he was defeated, thus eliminating this major threat to his master.

Just as the crowd was discussing this, a bright red figure slowly walked down the stone steps in the middle of the mountain path.

Shi Yiqun was dressed in a bright red outfit today, as dazzling as a burning flame. Her body was filled with the powerful aura of a mid-stage Grandmaster, and her steps were arrogant and proud.

Behind her, four master guards from the Shi family followed closely. Each of them had a calm demeanor and sharp eyes, clearly top experts who had been through many battles.

Shi Yiqun parted the crowd and walked straight to Su Hao, looking down at him with utter contempt.

She spoke, her voice filled with undisguised arrogance.

"Su Hao, in today's decisive battle at Xishan, everyone thinks you have a chance of winning. But in my eyes, you have had absolutely no chance from beginning to end."

"My brother, considering a sliver of blood ties, is giving you one last chance to admit defeat. As long as you bow your head in public, acknowledge your ancestors, and completely submit to the Shi family, from now on, you can use all the resources of the Shi family at your disposal."

"All the previous grudges between Guang Anping and the Thousand Hands Clan are wiped clean, as if they never happened."