Chapter 126: The Ancient One
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Because of Alice’s performance after the explosion, the subsequent acquisition and transfer of the company proceeded with remarkable ease.
Once the company had been handed over, many research projects and personnel from Wang Jing’s list were secretly brought to the Main Plane. Among them were Otto Gunther Octavius, the renowned Doctor Octopus, and Dr. Curt Connors, who would one day become the giant reptile known as the Lizard.
There was also Max Dillon, the man who had remained obscure for so long while risking life and limb for Oscorp’s power division—the future Electro—and many others.
Their talents and research projects were of immense value to the United Government. The worth of any one of them alone was enough to justify the price paid for acquiring Oscorp Industries.
Dr. Octavius was assigned exclusively to the research team working on the miniaturization of nuclear fusion reactors.
After the medical pod restored his severed arm, Dr. Connors was assigned to the T-virus research team.
As for Max Dillon, Electro, he was assigned to Jiang Ning’s research group. Though they had been placed in different teams, all of them felt deeply grateful toward the United Government.
Dr. Octavius’s nuclear fusion research had made little progress for a long time, leaving him desperately short of funding. Oscorp Industries had even been preparing to withdraw its investment in order to cut its losses. But after joining the United Government, he no longer needed to worry about research funds. He even had a functioning nuclear fusion reactor available for reference.
Although the easy realization of his lifelong dream left him feeling somewhat empty, learning about the new research project rekindled his hope.
Dr. Connors was much the same. His severed arm had been effortlessly restored, and upon learning of the T-virus’s astonishing properties, he threw himself into the research without hesitation.
As for the honest and straightforward Max, things were much simpler. Once he experienced what it felt like to be treated as an equal and cared for by others, he became utterly devoted to the United Government.
After the acquisition of Oscorp Industries had come to an end, Wang Jing paid a visit to Dr. Stephen Strange, who was still practicing as a physician. He invited him to dinner, and the two discussed the possibility of using consciousness to repair wounds or slow the healing process.
Wang Jing then traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal, to visit the Ancient One.
Just as he had expected, the moment he arrived in the small town of Kathmandu, he encountered Wong, who had been waiting for him.
“Mr. Wang Jing, the Ancient One asked me to wait for you here.”
Wang Jing nodded and followed Wong into Kamar-Taj. Wong’s entire figure was concealed beneath his sorcerer’s robes.
They passed through a wooden gate and walked along a path before arriving at an open courtyard, where numerous disciples were practicing martial arts and learning to use magic.
Only then did Wong, who had been leading the way, remove his hood. He turned back and asked Wang Jing curiously, “You don’t seem surprised by anything here.”
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“I’ve experienced things far stranger than this,” Wang Jing replied with a smile.
“I saw you say in the news that you created armor by yourself—armor more advanced than Tony Stark’s. Is that true?” Wong asked as he continued leading the way.
“Of course not. The things reported in the news were meant for ordinary people to hear. If I really had that kind of ability, I would have become the richest man in the world long ago,” Wang Jing said frankly.
“But aren’t you well on your way to becoming the richest man in the world now? You’ve acquired two major companies, and your net worth is already greater than Tony Stark’s!”
“Those things are illusory. A company is merely a vessel, a tool. What matters is what you use it for. If it is only for making money, then it has no meaning.”
“How can making money be meaningless?” Wong frowned and retorted. “Isn’t making money itself a kind of purpose?”
“Once you have more money than you could ever spend, it ceases to be money. It becomes nothing more than a string of numbers. Do you think the size of a number has any real meaning?”
“I do! Having money lets you accomplish many things you once wanted to do but could never achieve.”
“And then what?”
“What do you mean?” Wong turned back with a puzzled expression.
“After you’ve done everything there is to do, what will you do next?”
Wang Jing’s question left Wong speechless. Fortunately, they had arrived at their destination. Wang Jing patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Having money is actually a kind of trouble too!”
With that, he pushed open the wooden door before him and walked inside, leaving Wong standing outside with a strange expression on his face.
“Don’t go corrupting Wong,” the Ancient One said as soon as Wang Jing entered the main hall. Sitting cross-legged beside a tea table, she leisurely lifted her bowl of tea.
“He should learn something about the outside world. A sorcerer who knows only how to cast spells won’t do,” Wang Jing replied as he approached the tea table.
Their tones were those of old friends who had known each other for years, nothing like two people meeting for the first time.
The Ancient One poured him a cup of tea and gestured for him to sit. Wang Jing settled cross-legged on a cushion, raised the cup in both hands, and took a sip. The fresh fragrance of tea instantly filled his palate, bringing with it a feeling of sudden clarity even to his mind.
“Mm. This tea is excellent.” Wang Jing nodded in approval.
“Thank you,” the Ancient One replied, refilling his cup with fresh tea.
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“May I ask why you came to see me?” the Ancient One asked as she set down the teapot.
“I want to know whether magic can still be used in other planes. And I would also like to borrow the Time Stone.”
“I can agree to the first request, but I cannot lend you the Time Stone.” The Ancient One did not grow displeased by Wang Jing’s demands. She continued to regard him with a faint smile.
“I’m not asking to take the Time Stone with me. I only need to touch it. My abilities are somewhat unusual. I can improve them only by touching different kinds of powerful energy,” Wang Jing explained.
“But I cannot determine whether what you have said is true.” The Ancient One looked into Wang Jing’s eyes and spoke calmly.
“You can use the Time Stone to verify it,” Wang Jing said confidently.
“I’m afraid that won’t work. Ever since your arrival, the future can no longer be predicted.”
Wang Jing was slightly taken aback and looked up at the Ancient One.
“That’s right. Everything concerning you has become a field of gray and white.”
Wang Jing quickly recovered. “Yet you don’t seem worried about it.”
“That’s right. After all, the unknown is better than certain defeat.”
“If I had never appeared, you would still have been able to defeat Thanos.”
“That is merely one of countless possibilities. But I believe that with your addition, our chances of victory will be much greater. At the very least, Thanos will not obtain all the Infinity Stones.”
“If you have such faith in me, surely you can let me touch the Infinity Stone once?”
The Ancient One studied Wang Jing. After pondering for a moment, she smiled and said, “If you are willing to take me to see other worlds, I may consider it.”
Hearing this, Wang Jing’s face lit up with a smile, and he readily agreed.
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