Chapter 102: The Virtual World Congress

Inside the conference room of the headquarters of Fuyun Technology Group, the leading figures of the nation wore smiles of satisfaction. With the advent of the virtual machine, the virtual world was destined to replace the internet as we know it. From Li Fu’s words, everyone had gleaned that he was willing to open the virtual world’s access ports—but only to domestic users within China.

A brand-new domain, an entirely new industry—just look at how many world-class companies and billionaires the internet has produced to understand the immense potential of the virtual world. Simply securing a small corner within it could exponentially increase one’s wealth.

“So, Mr. Li, how do you plan to collaborate on this?”

Old Ma, one of the more influential attendees, raised his hand and posed the question. This was the question on everyone’s minds: with all the initiative in Li Fu’s hands, how would cooperation be structured? The mode of collaboration was crucial.

“The virtual world is a completely new frontier; none of us have experience in this field. We must all cross this river by feeling the stones beneath our feet. Fuyun Technology Group is willing to open the access ports to everyone. How large a slice of the cake each can claim depends solely on their own abilities.”

“For any revenue generated from the future virtual world, Fuyun Technology Group will only take 5%. Apart from the research and development of the Chinese programming system and the virtual world framework, we will not participate in any other development or research within the virtual world.”

Li Fu nodded to Old Ma and, after briefly organizing his thoughts, continued.

At present, the virtual machine’s potential was far from fully realized. It had merely functioned as a hybrid device akin to a smartphone-computer, serving as a gateway to the internet—a colossal use of a small tool. Its true purpose was to connect to the virtual world, something entirely distinct from today’s internet.

If the virtual world could be genuinely developed, it would hardly differ from reality. People could travel without leaving their homes. Once world-famous tourist sites were replicated within the virtual world, they could receive unlimited visitors daily without any damage to the actual locations.

Games within the virtual world could become genuinely immersive virtual experiences, with scenes and environments directly copied from reality, transforming human fantasy into a tangible, unforgettable realm.

Everything—gaming, shopping, education, work, meetings—once upgraded into the virtual world, would bring unprecedented convenience and service to humanity.

Only such a virtual world could fully unlock the power of the virtual machine. Currently, its use was akin to wielding a sledgehammer to kill a chicken, merely serving as an electronic device comparable to a computer or phone—an utterly meaningless application. Everyone had recognized the inevitable evolution from the internet to the virtual world, which explained why so many industry magnates had traveled tirelessly from all corners to attend this meeting.

Li Fu was acutely aware that, having monopolized bio-sensing technology, he effectively controlled the virtual machine product. Moreover, he understood that the virtual world’s development was far too vast for any single company to dominate—it required countless contributions and collaborative efforts.

The more participants who joined in building and refining the virtual world, the more realistic it would become and the sooner it could open to the public. This was much like the early days of the internet: only through widespread connectivity and continuous improvement did it reach its current scale.

The virtual world was no different. The greater the involvement in its construction, the faster it would mature into a true virtual realm.

From this perspective, Li Fu’s decision to exclude foreign powers and capital seemed unwise. Without international participation, the virtual world’s development would be incomplete, lacking in content. Undoubtedly, in the future, the virtual world would have to open up internationally—a fact Li Fu fully understood.

Only by opening access to all could the virtual world rapidly develop and perfect itself, truly becoming what it was meant to be.

By excluding foreign forces for now, Li Fu aimed to give domestic players a head start—allowing them to gain an advantage in this new field. What they could accomplish thereafter depended on their own talents.

When the virtual world eventually opened globally, if domestic players failed to maintain their foothold and were overwhelmed by foreign competition, it would hardly be Li Fu’s fault. Achieving this initial breakthrough was already remarkable.

It was impossible to shield domestic players indefinitely by closing the doors. Isolation was untenable; detachment from the world was impossible. Only openness and inclusivity could prevail—especially since this world, and thus the virtual world, belonged to everyone.

Of course, holding the key to the virtual machine, Li Fu would not give others a free ride. Though 5% seemed a modest share, it was pure profit for him, requiring no further investment. All future virtual world revenues would yield him this percentage.

Such an amount would be staggering—an astronomical sum—and most importantly, Li Fu needed only to open the access port. This was the advantage of holding the key. Didn’t Apple derive a significant portion of its income from its operating system?

For every product sold in Apple’s app store, Apple took a 30% cut—a truly formidable and ruthless figure. By comparison, Li Fu’s 5% was exceedingly fair, practically a benevolent rate.

After Li Fu’s speech, the assembled magnates nodded appreciatively. Li Fu would only develop the Chinese programming system and the virtual world’s framework, showing no interest in the other gold mines. He opened everything else to the attendees, leaving it to their abilities to claim their fortunes.

Moreover, Li Fu’s 5% cut satisfied everyone. He had arduously built the foundation for the virtual world, yet only asked for a modest share of its future profits. Many felt he was actually charging too little—if they held the key, none would settle for such a small cut.

Smiles appeared on the faces of every magnate, and glances exchanged revealed a subtle acknowledgment: they were rivals. Especially Old Ma and Dong, both entrenched in internet shopping, who would inevitably vie for the virtual world’s shopping market. They had long been competitors, now smiling at each other with a tacit understanding—they were back to square one.

A quick scan around the room showed many had high hopes for the virtual world’s shopping sector. The competition here would be fierce, for the potential cake was immense.

Little Ma from Penguin Company sensed many eyes upon him. As the owner of the nation’s leading internet and mobile chat software, Penguin had nearly monopolized the Chinese market. This solid foundation secured its position as China’s top internet enterprise.

This vast cake was undoubtedly coveted by many. Previously, Penguin had dominated the internet domain, having seized the market through free services. In the future virtual world, everyone would start on equal footing, promising fierce competition anew.

Little Ma was known for his tact but also his formidable capabilities. He casually surveyed the room, dismissing domestic rivals from his gaze. His sights were set globally—he intended to propel Penguin into the virtual world worldwide, achieving goals unmet in the current internet era.

While the magnates maintained smiles and amiability, all sensed that a fierce battle for the virtual world’s vast wealth had begun. Claiming even a small piece would be worthwhile, but all harbored ambitions backed by immense resources—and naturally, all sought the largest slice.

“Gentlemen, the virtual world’s global opening is inevitable. Only by opening to everyone can it develop and improve swiftly. I can only secure about one year of protective time for us. My personal advice is to increase cooperation among yourselves, to swiftly carve out the market and keep this treasure within our own pot.”

Li Fu felt the subtle shift in atmosphere and gently reminded everyone that the virtual world’s growth and enhancement aligned with his core interests. Whether domestic or foreign, future revenues would include his share. Naturally, he hoped to expand the cake so he might gain more.

“Mr. Li, isn’t one year too short? At least three to five years would be better.”

A magnate frowned slightly. One year of protection was indeed brief. For many with less capital and strength, the window to mine this gold was tight.

“One year is not short. China has always been renowned for its speed. Besides, Fuyun Technology Group is a small player. Facing enormous foreign pressure in the future, we likely cannot hold out long.”

Li Fu shook his head with a hint of helplessness.

The magnates nodded silently. In the virtual world, a one-year lead was substantial; sometimes even a single step ahead could create a vast gap.

Soon thereafter, all the magnates departed Sanjiang Town in haste—arriving and leaving hurriedly. Each rushed back to recruit and prepare for a grand push into the virtual world’s gold rush.

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