Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

Is it arrogance or a genuine solution to break the deadlock?

But countless challengers in the past have been lost to the dust of history. So what if Prince Zhidong is exceptionally talented?

"Your Highness, you seem not to believe what I'm saying?"

Ke Qing asked directly.

Instead of answering her directly, Su Yu asked her another question: "Miss Ke Qing, do you know what the most effective way to drive up housing prices is?"

"Increase the cost of building materials and labor."

Su Yu shook his head and asked again, "Do you know why the same building can sell for 100 million Mora in Liyue Harbor, but only 40 million Mora in Guili Plains?"

"Liyue Harbor has a large population, including many wealthy people. When these people rush to buy a particular property, it creates price competition, which in turn drives up the price. It's like at an auction, where the price of an item being sold gradually increases as people bid on it."

Su Yu replied, "You've only seen the surface. The reason these wealthy people are willing to pay exorbitant prices to buy properties is that real estate can maintain its value, appreciate in value, and be resold at a high price. Therefore, the most effective way to drive up housing prices is through 'property speculation'!"

"This is the first time I've heard of the concept of 'speculating on housing prices.' Your Highness, how exactly does one do it?"

Liyue's commercial trade is still at a relatively low level, and she cannot understand Su Yu's concept of "real estate speculation".

“The method is simple: release some information to stimulate these people’s greed.” Su Yu gave her a very simple example: “I just need to tell them that the Kingdom of Winter is about to invest in building the largest shopping market in all of Liyue nearby.”

"Really? Then I'll buy all the houses here..." Realizing that Su Yu was just giving an example, Ke Qing immediately exclaimed, "A clever and ingenious strategy! This move can cause the property prices in the vicinity to rise significantly again!"

At this moment, Su Yu put down his teacup and said, "Miss Ke Qing, you have already lost. If this were a real-world battle between you and me in the real estate industry, I would have already made a fortune."

"By the time you decide to enter the market, I have already exited this extremely risky area with huge profits and moved on to speculate on properties in other areas. As my wealth continues to grow, you wealthy businessmen can only follow behind me and take over the high-priced properties I drive up, commonly known as 'bagholders'."

"In this game of musical chairs, you may not be the last victim of the housing bubble bursting, but I am definitely the first player in this game. The risk is always the lowest and the profit is always the highest."

Ke Qing was deeply moved by what she heard.

This method of hype completely overturned her expectations.

Previously, when she was in the real estate business, she would only passively wait for housing prices to rise, and never thought that she could actively speculate on housing prices.

Although it's not very ethical to talk about speculating on housing prices.

But their principle as the "Liyue Seven Stars" is that profit is above all else; if the profit is big enough, what does moral depravity matter?

After all, moral depravity isn't illegal in Liyue; at most, you'll get a few insults...

"You just asked me if I didn't believe what you said... This is my answer. Even in the market you think you have a monopoly on, I can still use many business principles and methods to catch you off guard."

Ke Qing, the "Yuheng Star," felt a surge of excitement mixed with a hint of fear.

The Winter Prince before us seems to truly possess the power to influence Liyue. His business war against the "Liyue Seven Stars" may unfold in a way never seen before.

Of course, she wouldn't respond to Prince Zhidong with "I know the method you mentioned now."

If this prince dares to demonstrate a method of speculation to my face, then he must have many other ways to speculate on housing prices, making it impossible to guard against.

Ke Qing, who had been terrified for a long time, tried her best to calm herself down.

“I’ve thought about it carefully. Your Highness’s business strategy is almost flawless, but it’s somewhat romantic and naive. At the last moment of the business battle, Ningguang will use its legal power to prohibit people from speculating on real estate under the pretext of maintaining market stability. At that time, Your Highness’s strategy will fail.”

Su Yu shook his head again.

"Any law has a time lag. By the time you realize you need to use legal power, I have already broken your monopoly. And by then it will obviously be too late, because Liyue has been rife with real estate speculation, and the problems are too deep to be reversed."

“I remember a famous saying from the Liyue Seven Stars: ‘Cutting off someone’s path to wealth is like killing their parents.’ Merchants, wealthy people, and ordinary citizens who have tasted the sweetness of real estate speculation, when Ningguang cuts off their path to wealth, do you think these people will come to support me or support you, the Liyue Seven Stars?”

Finally, Su Yu smiled calmly.

“Miss Keqing, real estate speculation is just a means to an end. My goal is to win people’s hearts.”

Ke Qing lowered her head, losing her confidence and sharpness.

She knew all too well that Liyue was a city of contracts and a city of commerce.

In other words, it is a city driven by profit, where the people prioritize commercial interests.

Therefore, Prince Zhidong's strategy is very likely to succeed, tearing a crack in the market they monopolize.

Chapter 86 The Kingdom Without Gods

However, how effective Prince Zhidong's plans were in practice is another matter entirely.

Regardless, the Liyue Seven Stars will be well-prepared for battle, as their opponent this time is the Winter Prince, who should not be underestimated.

“Your Highness, I still wish to consult you on the matter of ‘rule by man.’ I firmly believe that the era of ‘rule by man’ has arrived, but all I see before me is darkness.”

Taking advantage of the rare opportunity, Ke Qing spoke her mind, words she had never dared to say to anyone else.

In front of outsiders, she is the "Yuheng Star" who acts decisively and always strives for efficiency and perfection, but she also has moments of confusion.

Just like now, she is isolated by her colleagues and regarded as an outsider by many people. She often wonders if her "rule by man" philosophy has indeed gone down the wrong path.

Su Yu smiled calmly and said, "When a beam of light shines into an abyss, the filth within is revealed, and that beam of light becomes sinful. Miss Ke Qing, you are that tiny beam of light, and so am I."

"On the tombstones of the gods, man will be the god of gods. On the ruins of lies, man will be the king of kings. Gods, from the very beginning, have been superfluous to man."

In the kingdom ruled by the seven gods, Su Yu believed that on the day when the laws of heaven were overthrown, gods and all demons would no longer have any reason to exist.

The rule of any deity is of no benefit to the survival and reproduction of the human race.

The continent of Teyvat will eventually become a godless realm...

Therefore, in essence, Su Yu stands on the side of the "rule by man" ideology.

Unlike Keqing, who is merely a ray of light shining into Liyue, he is the blazing sun illuminating the dark continent of Teyvat.

Ke Qing was overjoyed.

It turns out that the Prince of Zhidong also seems to support the idea of ​​"rule by man," which means that the direction she insisted on was at least not wrong.

“Your Highness, you have given me confidence, and I will tell you the truth.”

"My support for 'rule by man' is not an opposition to the Emperor. On the contrary, I deeply respect him. The Emperor has protected Liyue for five or six thousand years and deserves everyone's love and respect. I simply believe that even gods have their day of decay and fall, and we cannot always rely on them. Matters concerning humanity should be handled by us humans ourselves. I want to prove that humans can do better than gods and immortals!"

Keqing meant that she believed the Rock King Emperor would also die one day.

It seems that Keqing has already grasped a lot.

"People generally think that Ke Qing of 'Yuheng Star' looks beautiful in her purple dress and black veil. Today, Miss Ke Qing's thoughts are also pleasing to the eye."

Upon receiving Su Yu's praise, Ke Qing smiled shyly, her smile sweet and charming.

This was the first time she had ever smiled like that at a man.

"Miss Keqing, always remember that humanity's destiny should be in its own hands. Find out the amount of Mora in the Golden House's strategic reserves, and send someone to the mission's residence to deliver it to Lady Zangjing."

He drank the last cup of tea, then turned and stood up.

At this moment, Ke Qing suddenly blocked Su Yu's way, biting her lip as if she had made a tough decision.

"Your Highness, I hope you will defeat the Emperor!"

Su Yu stopped in his tracks.

"Ok?"

Keqing's expression was complicated, but she mustered her courage and said, "I guessed that Your Highness launched this business war against us, the 'Liyue Seven Stars,' in order to defeat the Emperor."

Seeing such an interesting expression on Yuheng Star Keqing's face, Su Yu smiled and said, "It's not surprising that you 'Seven Stars' could figure this out."

“Your Highness, I thought at the time that you were unwilling to take on the position of Regent because you might have had a conflict with the Emperor. The Emperor needed something from you, which is why he asked you to take on the position of Regent, but you did not agree. Not only that, you also challenged the ‘Liyue Seven Stars’. We, the ‘Seven Stars’, are the Emperor’s agents, and challenging us is tantamount to challenging the Emperor.”

Keqing revealed her conjecture.

"Morax is not worth my challenge; my target is in the sky."

The Seven Gods were not within the scope of Su Yu's challenge; he was the one who should be challenged by the Seven Gods.

“Miss Keqing, you want me to defeat your ‘Liyue Seven Stars’ and defeat the Emperor. If these words get out, you will lose your position as ‘Yuheng Star’ and your family will have no place in Liyue. Tell me your purpose and don’t lie.”

"I... don't know how to say it."

"Do you have a personal grudge against Morax?"

Keqing's eyes were resolute as she said, "I hope... someone can defeat the Emperor, even if it's through a business war. This will prove that gods are not invincible. This is crucial for Liyue's future 'rule by man'."

"I can grant your wish, but I never act without a reason."

Ke Qing's hands were sweating with nervousness as she gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.

After a few seconds of deliberation, she bent her arm behind her back and loosened her hair, letting her long purple hair fall loosely, making her look mature and alluring.

She then untied her corset and unbuttoned the back buttons.

The long purple dress fell to the ground, revealing her smooth, flawless figure.

It's as if a person seeking immortality in the wilderness, after clearing away the clouds and seeing the sun, suddenly finds a wide-open gate to the immortals before them.

"Although I am not the most beautiful woman in the world, I will not mistreat Your Highness. If Your Highness can defeat the Emperor, Keqing... is willing to offer her body as payment."

At this moment, Ke Qing's eyes were filled with white mist, and she closed them slightly, looking pitiful and vulnerable, as if she were ready to be taken advantage of.

Su Yu extended a finger and gently lifted her chin.

Ke Qing's heart was thrown into chaos, and her breathing began to become erratic.

For some reason, tears started flowing uncontrollably.

Perhaps it was the fear of losing her innocence, chastity, and self-respect, or perhaps it was the resentment of having to defeat the emperor in this way.

Through the gaps in her eyelashes, she could vaguely see Prince Zhidong looking at her body with great interest. Her thoughts were in turmoil, but she thought to herself, "Indeed, all men are the same. Sigh..."

Even a man as unparalleled and powerful as Prince Zhidong can succumb to the allure of beauty.

"Miss Keqing, you are ill."

"I'm not sick!"

Ke Qing thought Su Yu was mocking her.

Yes, for the mighty Yuheng Star to resort to such a humble way to beg others, Keqing felt a little ashamed of herself at this moment.

However, the next moment she saw Prince Zhidong take off his cloak and drape it over her naked body.

"Two dark clumps of elemental energy have formed on your chest and lower abdomen. This is because you have been using elemental combat techniques to train your swordsmanship for a long time, which has depleted your life force. If this continues, it will shorten your lifespan and cause you to become mentally unstable."

As they spoke, Su Yu's fingertips moved swiftly across the acupoints on her back and shoulders.

“Elemental power is ultimately a poison to mortals. Even with the help of the Eye of God, it is still impossible to completely avoid the side effects. I know a technique for detoxifying through acupoints that can help you eliminate the aftereffects of using the Eye of God.”