But the slap startled Jiang Hai inside the car. He immediately turned around and saw the animals charging wildly at him. The brown bear's paw slammed against the roof again, and the mountain lion leapt onto the car, scratching the roof relentlessly. The snake coiled at Jiang Hai's window, banging its head against the glass.
Seeing these frenzied animals before him, Jiang Hai was truly stunned and frightened.
Yet as fear spread through him, his pupils subconsciously constricted. Though he couldn't see it himself, anyone else would have noticed. His pupils shrank and instantly shifted from human eyes into those of a dragon—pale yellow with vertical slits, terrifying to behold on a human face.
At that moment, a powerful force suddenly surged out from him. The almost visible aura radiated outward. The bears, leopards, snakes, and other creatures pounding on the car instantly recoiled from the force, then without hesitation, turned and fled into the forest.
"What the hell's going on?" Jiang Hai felt something strange inside himself but quickly regained composure.
Feeling dizzy, he pulled himself up by the front seat and rubbed his head. Watching the animals vanish into the woods, he rubbed his face, trying to decide if it had just happened or if it was a hallucination.
"Is this new ability—Conqueror's Haki? It can even scare off wild animals." Jiang Hai took a few seconds to confirm that he wasn't imagining things. Then he chuckled softly. Is this even possible?
Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and savored the benefits of this upgrade.
Though he hadn't evolved into another species like from a golden dragon before, this evolution was still impressive. The spiritual energy contained in Jiang Hai's scales increased again. Initially, one drop of his blood equaled the energy of three scales. Later, one scale equaled three scales—equivalent to three drops of blood.
Now, after this evolution, his scales functioned in a three-dimensional system again, with one scale equaling the energy of nine drops of blood.
His scales were finer and denser than ever. Jiang Hai sensed upgrading them further would be very difficult. He counted a total of 3,780 scales. Without some rare treasure to rapidly increase scale numbers, he estimated it would take 189 days—over half a year—to upgrade again, even if he returned to his manor and maintained his current rate of about 20 scales per day.
And he couldn't even guarantee 20 scales a day—he still had to venture out.
Unless he were bedridden and completely immobile for months, he figured it would take at least a year to reach the next level—probably not until next June.
Putting thoughts of upgrading aside, Jiang Hai examined his new abilities. Not only had the spiritual energy of his scales increased, but his other powers and physical fitness had doubled again.
This doubling wasn't just normal human strength, but based on his original size. When he inherited the python's legacy, Jiang Hai's physical fitness maxed human limits. After transforming into a Jiao, it doubled; as a dragon, it quadrupled; and now, with the new horn, his strength had reached eight times the human limit.
Thinking this, Jiang Hai clenched his fists and threw a few rapid punches. His vision blurred slightly, signaling an increase in speed. Tyson was said to throw six punches per second; a Bronze Saint could throw eighty punches per second, reaching sonic speed. Jiang Hai couldn't match sonic speed yet, but throwing over ten punches per second was no problem.
"So now I'm at the level of an Apprentice Saint? Haha, Conqueror's Haki and an Apprentice Saint—am I even in the same world anymore?" Jiang Hai joked to himself.
After checking his strength, Jiang Hai took a deep breath and examined the move resembling Conqueror's Haki. He discovered it was similar to Dragon Might, a new skill.
Activating it consumed a lot of mental energy but was highly effective against animals—the more intelligent the animal, the stronger the effect.
It had no effect on humans, who were too clever for such intimidation.
With this skill, Jiang Hai would be much safer if he ventured into the sea again. His only real threat would be other people.
Stretching, Jiang Hai retrieved his phone and gun nearby, then opened the car door and stepped out. After making sure no one else was around, he checked his phone.
The power bank he'd specially equipped was dead.
He must have been unconscious for at least a week.
He got into the driver's seat, started the engine, and connected his phone. It lit up, displaying the current time. Jiang Hai sighed.
"Half a month has passed already..." The evolution had jumped time from June to July.
Turning on his phone, countless text messages flooded in. Who would think there was cell service in the American mountains? Jiang Hai's data wasn't working, so he only received texts.
There were seventy-three messages total. Over twenty came from Edward Anderson, Robbins Garcia, and Dulles Gerard, updating sales figures.
Jiang Hai glanced through them; everything matched the money deposited in his account.
Over thirty messages came from Darlene, Marian, Afra, Qiya, Feng Yunchen, Ai Xiaoxi, and others, mostly asking about Jiang Hai's condition. Qi Li and Pra Walton had also sent a few messages, stopping after no reply.
There were some from Moses Adams, discussing company mergers.
Jiang Hai smiled, seeing no urgent matters, and tossed his phone into the car.
After eating well, he began untying the ropes securing the car.
The forest dust wasn't heavy; even after two weeks, his car wasn't very dirty.
After freeing the car, Jiang Hai started the engine. The US oil was indeed good.
After two weeks idle, the car started immediately.
After a brief warm-up, Jiang Hai prepared to leave but first wanted to report he was safe.
He called Qi Jie, nominal head of his household.
Hearing Jiang Hai finished his business and was returning, Qi Jie and others sighed with relief. The women who hadn't seen him in a while cheered. Darlene and Marian even called Afra with the good news.
After chatting briefly, Jiang Hai hung up.
According to his schedule, he should be home tomorrow, so he'd talk more then.
He then called Pra Walton and Qi Li, who were also relieved.
Qi Li told Jiang Hai that the girl Du Ning was a great helper—protective, intelligent, and resourceful.
Jiang Hai was glad the people he sent were helpful.
After that, he called Moses Adams.
Adams updated him on recent progress. Everyone had their specialties, and Adams was skilled at attacking companies.
Before Jiang Hai left, Adams had been working on this for nearly twenty days.
The first to collapse was Colorite. Though it later received a bailout, the company had little money, and shareholders weren't invested.
After a final investment of about 100 million, it collapsed.
Adams seized the opportunity, buying over 80% of shares for 17 million.
Using Colorite as a shell company, he sold it to a prearranged buyer for 300 million.
Including acquisition costs, Adams spent about 130 million and made 300 million, netting Jiang Hai 170 million in 20 days.
Of course, taxes applied, but stock market taxes were lighter than personal income taxes.
He estimated Jiang Hai pocketed around 150 million after taxes in 20 days.
This windfall was partly luck—Carlight was wanted, and their directors lacked confidence.
On the other side, Ma Yang Smith, worth around 100 million, had secured another 300 million and was fighting Moses Adams financially.
However, Adams worked in the open, while Smith was in the dark, giving Adams the advantage.
With 150 million as a guarantee, Adams was confident.
Jiang Hai's goal was not profit but avoiding losses.
Adams reported losing nearly 20 million against Smith's 80 million. It remained to be seen who would collapse first.
Akita Corporation was more difficult—an island-based, family-owned company, unlisted in the US.
The plan was to deal with two thugs first, then consider investing in the island country to confront the family—a risky strategy Jiang Hai needed to ponder carefully.
Listening to Adams's report, Jiang Hai silently nodded. The plan made sense.
He authorized Adams to continue, emphasizing minimizing losses.
With Jiang Hai's approval, Adams felt reassured.
After confirming these matters, Jiang Hai breathed a sigh of relief—his work was temporarily done.
He would handle the rest after returning home.
Just as Jiang Hai finished the calls and prepared to drive away,
a dozen figures suddenly emerged from the forest.
Seeing Jiang Hai's car, they approached silently and surrounded it.
Jiang Hai was stunned.
He stopped the car and looked at the surrounding figures.
They were likely Native Americans, judging by their skin tone.
Their faces were painted with colorful oils; their upper bodies red, lower bodies clad in traditional clothing, though some wore modern clothes beneath.
They surrounded Jiang Hai's car, holding homemade firearms and watching him warily.
"Hey, friends up there, what's going on? I know you guys are from the Kananzhe unit." Jiang Hai had no intention of provoking conflict.
He turned off the engine and spoke calmly in their language.
(To be continued.)