Chapter 129: The Mining Queen

Chapter 129: The Mineral Queen

Just as Li Hongshen was enjoying a period of low-profile stability, an invitation from the "Mineral Queen" sent ripples through his tranquil life. Carrying a gift box and accompanied by Ke and Li Li, Li Hongshen departed from Hong City, riding a Storm Eagle directly toward Jingi City.

The Mineral Queen was preparing for her promotion. After years of development, her strength had clearly reached a point where it could no longer be suppressed; she would soon attain the highest tier above the ten-thousand-meter mark and venture out to see new horizons. Simultaneously, she was preparing to make her move toward the Lord University, using the power she had accumulated over the years to secure a spot at an ideal institution. Before her departure, she invited her close friends to gather and chat, as this parting could potentially last for over a decade. Unless she reached the level of Li Fugui or the "Little King"—who had already secured special admission—she would likely remain in the upper echelons, fighting for progress rather than descending to spend time on trivial matters.

Everyone understood this well; had they been in her position, they would have done the same. Moreover, all necessary handovers, such as supply contracts and partnerships, had been settled long ago, as she had notified everyone well in advance. Li Hongshen had been among the first to receive the news. Although he had accounted for the impact of her promotion when building his supply chain and had established several secondary and tertiary suppliers, her departure still caused some fluctuations. After all, not everyone possessed her wealth of mineral resources, all converted into spiritual veins. Fortunately, the impact was manageable; by increasing the order volume from other suppliers, he smoothed out the turbulence, though it required him to manage more frequent logistics coordination.

The farewell party was held at the Jingi Grand Hotel. Ironically, it was Li Hongshen who had encouraged the Mineral Queen to build this hotel, yet she had not contracted the construction to him, only allowing his people to install the electrical systems. Li Hongshen had criticized her for "burning bridges," but the Mineral Queen showed him exactly what it meant to argue with a woman. She publicly suggested that Li Hongshen was bullying a "weak, defenseless woman," sparking a scandal that terrified him. Upon hearing the news, he rushed to find her, only to be blocked by her attendants. Once he finally gained entry, she teased him mercilessly, and he only managed to quell the rumors after promising to install the electrical systems for free.

Somehow, news of this reached Li Fuzhen. Though she only mentioned it briefly, Li Hongshen felt an inexplicable exhaustion that day, finding even three cups of goji berry water ineffective against his fatigue—he felt he needed a medical scanner. The mastermind behind it all, Li Fugui, smiled while scribbling in his little notebook: "Excellent. After all these years, I finally got my revenge. That's one debt settled. Hahaha, don't laugh; I am a professional at pranking people. Hahahahaha."

The Jingi Grand Hotel was a six-story structure featuring guest rooms, high-end restaurants, and conference halls. The culinary offerings were similar to those in Hong City, as every lord had a few talented chefs. They frequently held competitions, such as the "Chef King Tournament," which allowed chefs from various territories to exchange skills, create better dishes, and enrich the culinary culture for their people.

Today, the hotel was closed to the public, reserved for the Mineral Queen’s guests. Li Hongshen, holding his invitation and gift, entered the lobby and was led to the sixth floor by staff. As he had arrived early, the hall was still sparse. After handing over his gift and signing the guest book, he walked toward the balcony with his two companions. He sank into a sofa, observing the scene. As the party hadn't officially begun, the hall remained quiet. Seeing a few acquaintances, he offered a nod but chose not to join them, instead admiring the chandeliers on the balcony.

These chandeliers were a design the Mineral Queen had "borrowed" from him. He had provided the craftsmanship, and she had supplied the spiritual minerals. Artisans in Hong City had broken the minerals into fragments, hollowed them out, and inscribed them with luminous sorcery runes, linking them with spiritual gold wire to connect to the building’s power circuit. They glowed brilliantly when lit—a sight the Mineral Queen loved. Li Hongshen felt he had successfully curried favor, yet he harbored no illusions about pushing his luck; this beautiful lord was exceptionally rational. She displayed the chandeliers in the hotel to demonstrate their friendship while simultaneously signaling that she kept public and private matters separate. Had it been otherwise, she would have placed them in her private manor. It was precisely for this reason that Li Hongshen deeply respected her.

During the most difficult days of his business wars, her abundant mineral supply had been his backbone. Now that she was promoting, he felt a sense of unease. He didn't sit for long before her attendant invited him to a private meeting in a small room adjacent to the banquet hall. Inside, the Mineral Queen was already dressed in a pink gown, nibbling on some food.

"You're here."
"Yes."
"Do you have anything to say?"
"When are you promoting?"
"Tomorrow at noon."
"So soon?"
"You know I've waited a long time."

Li Hongshen fell silent for a moment. "Then I wish you a pleasant promotion."
"Yes."
"I'll be going then."
"Go ahead."

He turned to leave, but as he reached the door, she called out, "Wait, take this." He turned to see her walking toward him, holding out a thin booklet. He accepted it, feeling at a loss.

"Take it. I haven't thanked you for helping me earn so many source points; otherwise, I couldn't have promoted so quickly. You should hurry up and promote as well. I'll be waiting for you up there."
"Yes."
"Alright, you can go now."

Exiting the room and returning to his seat in the banquet hall, Li Hongshen drank his water in silence. The tactics of such female lords were truly sophisticated; if not for his firm resolve, he might have struggled to keep his composure.