13: Challenges from overseas

Just then, Wang Dalong finished his call and charged in like a bull on adrenaline, "Thud!" The door swung open as his face beamed like a bright red chrysanthemum.

"Brother Feng! We've taken off! We’re literally soaring!"

He waved his phone, spit flying like a sprinkler, "I contacted a hotshot senior from our university's law school. He's a top-tier attorney specializing in copyrights! He’ll help us review the contracts so no one can screw us over!"

"From now on, the two of us will never have to worry about money again!"

Lin Feng nodded and casually closed the system interface in front of him.

Money?

To be honest, it really was just a string of numbers to him now.

Whether it was the one million reward from the system or the upcoming eight-figure film and television adaptation fee, it was all enough for him to achieve complete financial freedom.

But his mind had already drifted toward that vast fog of history. Those unknown secrets were what truly made his heart race.

Over the next few days, the online hype didn't die down; instead, it snowballed.

The ID "Treasure Hunting Madman Old Lin" became a total sensation, evolving from a livestreaming handle into a phenomenal cultural symbol.

Countless people began to mimic his style, carrying Luoyang shovels to their local hills to "search for dragons and pinpoint spots," causing chaos for local police stations.

Even when his livestream was just a black screen, millions of people flocked in every day as if they were punching in for work.

The bullet chat scrolled faster than a waterfall, packed with "Leeuwenhoeks" analyzing the Qinling treasure—from the structure of the grottoes to the purity of the gold cakes, even the number of breaths Lin Feng took was being scrutinized.

When Lin Feng and Wang Dalong finally finished handling their chores and decided to resume streaming, the scene was like a landslide or a tsunami.

The moment the "Start Stream" button was pressed, the livestream's popularity shot up like a skyrocket, instantly breaking the ten-million mark!

The servers couldn't handle the terrifying traffic; they let out a digital groan, and the video lagged for half a second before recovering.

"Holy crap! Caught Brother Feng alive!"

"I finally waited for you! Good thing I didn't give up! Selling melon seeds, peanuts, and mineral water in the front row!"

"Brother Feng, Brother Feng! I heard you got a one-million-yuan reward? That's freaking awesome!!"

"Big boss, do you still need any leg attachments? The kind that can shout '666'!"

The bullet chat was like a tide, nearly drowning the screen.

Wang Dalong was now very proficient in his role; without a word, he took charge of the hype, cracking jokes and getting the crowd fired up.

However, amidst the harmonious praise of "Big Boss is awesome," the tone of the bullet chat soon shifted.

"Only a million? Are you kidding me? That was Wang Mang's treasure! The gold is measured in tons! The streamer took a massive loss on this one, didn't he?"

"He has a great vision, and his actions are respectable, but in reality, he really lost out big time. If it were me, I could never be that noble even if you killed me."

"To put it bluntly, treasure hunting in China is just doing free labor for the state. It's boring. With that kind of skill, why not go treasure hunting abroad? Everything you dig up would be yours! That’s how you get rich!"

"Exactly! That's exactly what I'm thinking! Go find the treasure of the Caribbean pirates! That’s what I call exciting! That’s what I call a life!"

As soon as these comments appeared, the livestream exploded into a frenzy.

Fans supporting Lin Feng cursed them for having a vision smaller than a needle's eye, saying they were defiling the word "exploration."

Others felt they were right—people should be realistic, and there was no need to be a "Living Lei Feng."

The two sides argued incessantly, the bullet chat flying by with a heavy scent of gunpowder.

Lin Feng watched the screen quietly without saying a word.

He had long expected this to happen.

When your actions exceed the understanding of most people, controversy and doubt follow you like a shadow.

Wang Dalong was fuming, rolling up his sleeves to jump into the fray.

"Hey, my temper! These keyboard warriors don't know jack..."

He was about to start ranting when Lin Feng reached out to stop him.

"Don't worry." Lin Feng patted his shoulder, turned to the camera, and spoke calmly.

"What they’re saying... actually makes sense."

With that one sentence, it was as if a mute button had been pressed; the entire livestream went silent.

Everyone was stunned.

Both sides of the argument stopped typing, and countless viewers widened their eyes.

Brother Feng... what does he mean?

He actually agrees with those saying he "lost out"?

"In China, we are the discoverers of history and, more importantly, the Guardians of cultural relics. This is our responsibility and our sense of mission as descendants of Huaxia."

Lin Feng looked at the camera with an incredibly sincere expression.

"However, abroad, the rules of the game are indeed different. Those treasures lost in the corners of the world are also gems of human civilization. To discover them and uncover the stories behind them is also very meaningful and... very exciting."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, and they were well-reasoned. The atmosphere in the livestream shifted unconsciously.

The viewers who had been arguing fiercely fell into deep thought.

Indeed, the nature of it was completely different between being domestic and being abroad.

Just as everyone was captivated by Lin Feng's words, the cold system notification rang out in his mind without warning.

[Ding! Detected the strong will of a massive audience. Triggering the 'Global Treasure Hunt' series of missions!]

[New Mission Released: Find the lost treasure of the Pirate King, William Kidd!]

[Mission Description: William Kidd, the most legendary pirate captain of the late 17th century. Legend has it that he hid the endless wealth he plundered throughout his life on a secret island. Find it, and you will obtain wealth enough to rival a nation, as well as... a shocking secret hidden behind the wealth that is enough to overturn history.]

[Mission Reward: 80,000 Prestige Points, Special Skill 'Proficiency in Minor Languages (Passive)'—issued in advance, will be revoked if the mission is not completed within 100 days!]

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat!

Another passive skill!

He had already experienced how divine "Intermediate Treasure Detection" was; it was a sixth sense that bordered on the metaphysical.

And now, this "Proficiency in Minor Languages" was of immeasurable value for an explorer about to go global!

System, you're a god! This is like being offered a pillow just as you're getting sleepy—and it's a latex one at that!

He no longer hesitated. He faced the camera and gave a slightly shy but confident smile.

"Since everyone's enthusiasm is so high, then..."

He deliberately drew out his words, keeping everyone in suspense.

"Our next stop will be to answer everyone's call and find the treasure of that legendary Pirate King—William Kidd!"

As soon as he said this, the livestream exploded.

It completely and utterly exploded!

After three seconds of dead silence, there was a mountain-shaking, tsunami-like frenzy!

[Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! Brother Feng, are you for real?!]

[Global Treasure Hunt! Damn! I'm definitely following this series! Don't anyone try to stop me!]

[From the First Emperor's General to the Caribbean Pirate King! This range! He's going wild!]

[Ahhh! My god! Brother Feng is going to be a real-life Pirate King!]

[Brother Feng is awesome (voice cracking)! This is what a real man should do!]

Lin Feng's promise was like a challenge sent to the whole world, igniting the fire of adventure in everyone's hearts... Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean.

New York, the top of Manhattan, a top-floor office of a skyscraper piercing the clouds.

A man with a cigar between his fingers, his figure hidden in the throne-like shadows, was quietly watching Lin Feng's livestream on a massive screen.

On the obsidian desk in front of him lay a thick dossier. The cover was printed with two striking Chinese characters in gold-embossed English font: "Lin Feng".

"William Kidd's treasure..."

The man tapped the cold desk with a finger clad in a metal glove, creating a dull, rhythmic "tap, tap."

"Ten years. Our people spent ten whole years and consumed countless resources without even seeing a shadow of that 'Golden Mural,' only to finally determine it was in Kidd's treasure. This young man named Lin Feng—what makes him think he can?"

His voice was low and steady, yet it carried an oppressive weight that made one shiver.

Behind him, a ghost-like assistant bowed respectfully.

"Lord Osiris, according to our analysis, the process by which he discovered Wang Mang's treasure... does not follow any logic. The technical team believes he may possess some unknown precision positioning technology, or... an 'intuition' that transcends common sense."

The man called "Osiris" let out a low chuckle upon hearing this, a laugh devoid of any warmth.

"The 'Golden Mural' is related to the 'eye of omniscience'; it must not fall into the hands of outsiders."

He stood up and walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the city lights below like a sea of stars.

"Then let him go find it. We... will be the oriole waiting at the end."

"Have the Caribbean branch mobilize. Control all the sea routes, ships, and guides in that area—every resource that can be utilized."

"We will set the stage for him, prepare the props, and even find the audience."

The man's voice carried a powerful confidence that he controlled everything.

"I want to see if this dragon from the East can stir up the seas in our territory, or if his scales will be plucked and his tendons pulled."

"Keep a close eye on him."

"From the moment he leaves China, I want to know his every move and every person he meets!"