Chapter 3: Desert Challenge: A Family Ultimatum

The headquarters of Tianchen Culture stands in Haishi’s 2nd Ring Business District – right in the bustling city center.

One hour later

Xu Hao got out of the taxi and entered the first-floor reception hall of Tianchen Culture.

The hall was spacious. As soon as he stepped in, Xu Chen noticed a sharply dressed young man seated in the east-side sofa area – his third brother, the third young master of the Xu Family, Xu Chen.

At that moment, a refined man of about forty sat beside him, and the two were deep in conversation.

“Third Brother!”

Xu Hao walked over and greeted him.

The current chairman of the Xu Family conglomerate has six children – four daughters and two sons. Xu Chen is the elder third brother, while Xu Hao is the youngest. Except for Xu Hao, the other five each manage several subsidiaries under the Xu Family Group.

“You’re here?”

Xu Chen gave Xu Hao a disapproving glance before turning to the middle-aged man, “Wang Lu, this is my youngest brother, Xu Hao.”

“Mr. Xu, hello!”

At these words, the middle-aged man immediately stood and nodded to Xu Hao.

“Third Brother, why did you bring a lawyer along?”

Xu Hao was taken aback. Things felt off – their past meetings were never so formal, and it was always his turn to be lectured. Today, his third brother’s attitude was unusually strict.

“Old Six, you know our father found out about your plan to join the hundred-day desert survival challenge!” Xu Chen said as he slowly relaxed back onto the sofa.

“So?”

Xu Hao shot a quick glance at the lawyer.

“You know how temperamental old man can be. That’s why he personally arranged to buy you a desert—fifty kilometers long and fifty kilometers wide. From now on, that entire desert is yours. He’s even secured the Land Development Permit, the Construction Project Planning Permit, the Building Construction Permit, the Land Use Certificate, and the Wild Animal Breeding Permit. In that desert, do whatever you want; no one can tell you otherwise!”

Oh, and when you take on this challenge, the authorities will install boundary markers and fences around the desert. Be sure not to step outside the lines.

Xu Chen nodded to lawyer Wang, who understood all too well and immediately pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase, sliding them over to Xu Hao.

“These.”

Staring at the pile of documents on the coffee table, Xu Hao was completely stunned.

He recalled that his father had always been decisive and domineering – if he had already arranged all five permits, there was no joke about it.

“Is our father for real? Third Brother, I came today to say I’m having second thoughts. How about I skip this desert survival and take a 5-million startup fund instead? Or maybe I could become the vice president at Second Sister’s management company?”

Catching himself, Xu Hao hurriedly explained.

He had come to Xu Chen to try and scrap all previous decisions and start afresh as a true ‘rich second generation.’

“Second thoughts?”

Xu Chen was genuinely surprised.

In all his years, he had never seen his little brother show any sign of weakness until now.

“Second thoughts!”

“Too late. You must participate in the survival challenge, and don’t even think that the family will support you. Our father’s order is absolute – after buying you that desert, no one in the Xu Family will lend you a hand for the next five years. Also, don’t expect to use the Xu Family name during that period; everyone in the conglomerate has been notified, and they won’t acknowledge you.”

Xu Chen stared at Xu Hao for a long moment before throwing up his hands in resignation.

He simply couldn’t believe that his brother could back down so easily. Let him experience the unforgiving wild firsthand.

“Third Brother, I really can’t do this! What if I call father? Besides, how much did that desert cost? I can’t possibly live in the desert forever.”

Xu Hao’s anxiety grew.

“The Tengli Desert isn’t prime real estate in Haishi—it won’t cost much! And a word of advice: don’t call father. If you do, he might cut you off for good. Of course, if you’re really determined, stay in the desert for a hundred days and Tianchen Culture’s promised 5-million prize will be yours in full.”

Xu Chen spread his arms helplessly.

“But who can possibly survive a hundred days in the desert? What if something goes terribly wrong?”

“Don’t worry. Your section of the desert is only five kilometers from Mingsha County in Su Province, where a rescue team is stationed in a village along the border. If the challenger can’t hold on much longer, help will arrive immediately.”

If memory serves, the challenge officially begins the day after tomorrow. Activities kick off tomorrow, and someone will come to pick you up.

So…

“Third Brother!”

“Who’s been messing around lately? Next, I’ll have lawyer Wang draft the contract and explain all the property details! They even registered a sole proprietorship in your name just for buying the land!”

“I…”

One hour later

Xu Hao, carrying all the signed contracts, watched as a top-tier luxury car gradually disappeared from view.

“Damn it! I only had 200 left in my account. The taxi ride here cost 50, and getting back will set me back another 50. This is just too extravagant!”

Frustrated and disappointed, Xu Hao glanced at the briefcase in his hand before turning toward the bus stop across the street.

Yes!

Unable to fight destiny any longer, he finally yielded.

Though he was disheartened by the outcome, he recognized that his past recklessness had left him with no other option – the family wouldn’t support him for the next five years. Thus, apart from joining the hundred-day desert survival challenge, he had no alternative.

Rather than causing further trouble at home, he might as well give it his all. Who knows? He might even succeed.

At least with 5-million in hand, life could be pretty comfortable without needing to buy a house.

And if he failed, he’d simply endure the next five years until he could reclaim his status as a rich second generation.

As he squeezed onto the bus, Xu Hao instinctively glanced through the window at the Tianchen Culture headquarters.

Just then, the massive electronic screen outside the building flashed, showing a barren desert landscape. A voice then began:

“Tengli Desert is located in the northwest of Su Province, positioned between 37° and 40° north latitude and 102° and 106° east longitude.

It stretches south beyond the Great Wall, east to Heshan, and west to Yabu Mountain. Spanning 480 kilometers north to south and 320 kilometers east to west, it covers roughly 160,000 square kilometers – making it the fourth largest desert in the Long Kingdom.

There, ten survival experts from around the world will challenge themselves to endure one hundred days in the wild. The last person standing will win a cash prize of 5-million. Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the KuaiDou platform will host a live broadcast to select the survival tools, and the challenge officially begins the day after tomorrow. Stay tuned!”

“I just hope the Tengli Desert’s sandstorms are kind to me!”

Brushing his worries aside, Xu Hao took a deep breath.

According to the challenge rules, there’s a live broadcast tomorrow morning to choose survival tools. He’d need to carefully plan what to bring.

Though he might lack any special magical abilities, he was at least a skilled carpenter who could restore ancient structures, and he was confident he could build a sturdy shelter to withstand the desert’s fierce winds.