Due to the destruction of Tianzhu, Li Zhenhai had been preparing an escape route for the Li family for twenty years. Upon receiving Master Qi's notification, he immediately led the core elites away without wasting a moment. The Li family's base was located in District 43, with all their buildings constructed on the Earth Mother ship. In case of an emergency, they could instantly withdraw the buildings into the hold and take off.
The Earth Mother ship was a crucial transport equipment for swift mobilization and quick deployment on asteroids, rarely seen in residential areas like the Imperial Star. As it ascended into the sky and slowly departed, the sight of it covering the sky attracted many onlookers. Some were terrified, others thrilled, and there were those who incessantly inquired about what was happening.
Soon, they found their answers online. The Emperor had directly announced to the entire Galaxy that the Yan and Li families had betrayed the nation, issuing a hundred-page-long wanted notice that included all the influential figures of the two families, with an absurdly high bounty: a medium-sized energy star.
Satellite planets could be categorized as large, medium, or small by size and as energy stars, habitable stars, livestock stars, resort stars, etc., by function. Undoubtedly, the energy stars were the most valuable. A medium-sized energy star could produce enough annual output to sustain hundreds of millions of lives, and it was only the price for capturing Qi Ze.
The entire Galaxy was in an uproar. To prevent civil unrest, Helian Zhao immediately posted fabricated evidence online, including Qi Ze's destruction of the Mu family's old residence, the murder of the Fifth Prince and Mu Ran, the betrayal of military secrets to the Federation, and the incitement of the Yan and Li families to revolt. He portrayed Qi Ze as a madman against humanity.
As a result, the public developed profound distrust of the military. Under the influence of certain individuals, they repeatedly demanded that the Emperor purge the military and eliminate internal threats to swiftly stabilize the situation. Helian Zhao did not dare to "disobey public opinion" and used the four family heads as bargaining chips to restructure the military. Without a commander-in-chief and deprived of their super mechas, the four legions barely resisted before fracturing and aligning with their respective overlords. The era of the royal family finally dawned.
Such an unstable situation inevitably led to a series of disorders. A hacker named Lord Jacob posted a lengthy article online, exposing Mu Feixing's millennium-old conspiracy. The content was both shocking and fanciful, leading to its initial spread being met with disbelief by netizens, who considered it the fantasy of a certain online writer. Despite numerous clicks, its influence was minimal, barely causing a ripple.
The Department of Police and Politics swiftly deleted the post, but it reappeared, with the original poster firmly asserting that the Empire's six super mechas were already controlled by Mu Feixing's ghost. He urged everyone to leave the Imperial Star immediately to avoid getting embroiled in the chaos.
"Damn, this author has gone crazy writing. Hahaha..." some laughed heartily.
"Scram! To whitewash those traitors, you've come up with such a bizarre story. I truly admire your imagination. Do you think everyone is an idiot? To believe such nonsense? Where are the police, I want to report the poster. He clearly has antisocial tendencies, quickly arrest him!" some were indignant.
"I've already reported it, no thanks!" someone acted promptly.
The Department of Police and Politics' complaint line was flooded with calls. The lengthy post was repeatedly deleted, but after hundreds of back-and-forths, Lord Jacob finally lost patience and vanished. Netizens, who thought they had won an anti-secessionist war, rejoiced and spread the news, inadvertently boosting the popularity of the article, but few believed it.
The Fifth Prince read the article word by word and teased Mu Ran, "Dear, I didn't expect Lord Jacob to be such a lunatic. He claims your great-great-grandfather isn't dead but has been living on the Star Network."
Mu Ran smiled faintly. "If great-great-grandfather could come back to life, that would be wonderful. I'm really exhausted alone."
"No, dear, you still have me." The Fifth Prince embraced his fiancé, kissing his forehead tenderly, "After Father holds the military parade, we'll get married. I'll give you the grandest wedding."
"Really? I'm waiting." Mu Ran lowered his eyelids, his expression unreadable.
In outer space, a dense cluster of warships was surrounding a light-weighted Neptune ship. It was as if a massive army was capturing a mere grasshopper, an absurd sight. The Neptune ship did not counterattack but merely activated its shield. Naturally, even if it had retaliated, it would have been futile, for in the end, it would have been trapped regardless.
"Marshal Yan Hongyuan, hello?" A man with a delicate appearance appeared on the communication channel. He stared intently at Old Marshal Yan, his eyes seemingly filled with venom.
"Mu Yang, it's you?" Old Marshal Yan glanced at the enemy fleet's emblem, realizing, "You weren't exiled back then but had been lurking in the asteroid belt, working for the family? No wonder the demon fleet could become the largest pirate group in the Black Eye Galaxy within just twelve years, with the Mu family continuously supplying you with weapons and funds, how could you not succeed? Mu Yun truly has remarkable skills, raising children who are one more capable than the other."
"This isn't just Mu Yun's doing; it's due to Mu Feixing's superior genes." Li Ziqian praised with hidden criticism, his smile sarcastic.
"You indeed know about Great-Grandfather now." Mu Yang looked at Qi Ze, who was seated beside him, and smiled, "Master Qi, a friend who has been admiring you from afar wishes to meet you."
"Mu Feixing is here too? In your warship?" Qi Ze raised his chin.
"Great-Grandfather is omnipresent. Where there is a network, there is his trail." Mu Yang nodded slightly and disappeared, replaced by Mu Feixing's figure. He shed his image of having white hair in his old age, appearing in his mid-twenties with a youthful and handsome appearance, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, a gentle smile, and a scholarly demeanor. At first glance, he had a seven-eighths resemblance to Mu Ran.
"Master Qi, we finally meet." He said joyfully, "I personally invited you to participate in my research project. This will be a monumental feat. From now on, humans will no longer have to fear aging, illness, or the vicissitudes of fate. As long as the soul remains, humanity will endure."
"No matter how noble your reasons are, they cannot conceal your greed and selfishness. Your so-called eternal existence is predicated on consuming the souls of others. I cannot agree with that." Although Qi Ze enjoyed taking the crooked path, he was not a person without limits.
"Being unable to gain your understanding is deeply regrettable." Mu Feixing removed his glasses, brushing his naturally falling hair to the back, revealing sharp eyes like blades, "Then, I offer you two choices: one, please come to me voluntarily, and I'll spare this warship; two, you resist to the death, and I'll exterminate everyone. Which do you choose?"
"Sorry, although I don't want to hurt your self-esteem, I must tell you that you lack the power to force me to choose." Qi Ze tapped the armrest of his chair, his smile was full of contempt.
Mu Feixing was not provoked. While polishing the glasses, he slowly spoke, "To demonstrate my respect for you, I dispatched this fleet to block you. However, you should know that if I wanted to eliminate you, I could do it alone. I can control super mechas, and naturally, I can take over this Neptune ship. The network is my touchstone; here, I'm more powerful than anyone else."
Ming Rui nestled closer to Li Yu, knowing that what Mu Feixing said was true. In the network, he was invincible. Old Marshal Yan and the others were shocked internally but did not show it on their faces. Only Qi Ze remained calm, spreading his hands and smiling, "Fine, you can give it a try. My network always welcomes you."
His eyes sparkled, his lips curling into a high smirk out of anticipation, without a hint of fear. Mu Feixing hesitated, deep in thought, holding his glasses. He knew Qi Ze had many unfathomable means, even in the network. He could not fully invade the other's smartbrain and personal webpage â the reason he dared not rashly take over this Neptune ship.
Facing Qi Ze, no level of caution was excessive. Thinking this, Mu Feixing put his glasses back on and said gently, "Since Master Qi has chosen to resist, I have no choice but to be impolite. However, before that, I'd like you to watch a movie." He clapped his hands and vanished from the holographic screen. The view shifted from the vast star-studded sky to a bustling city. The broad square was lined with legions in formation, marching past the towering imperial palace. Helian Zhao stood on the city wall, waving to the cheering crowd.
The treason of the Yan and Li families had significantly reduced the military's credibility, whereas the royal family gained more support and adoration. To swiftly mitigate the negative impact of the internal turmoil, Helian Zhao decided to stage a scale-unprecedented military parade to showcase the Empire's might to the public and warn external forces against rash actions. This decision was unanimously approved nationwide, with the date set for today.
Countless ribbons fluttered in the air as the crowd's cheers almost touched the sky, yet they could not drown out the uniform footsteps of the troops. They marched with vigor, well-equipped, and when they raised their rifles and shouted slogans, the grand spectacle exhilarated the audience. The Kaiyang, equipped with the newly installed control system, flew over the troops, followed by Tianquan, Tianji, Tianxuan, and Yuheng. The last one, and the most unfamiliar super mecha, triggered applause akin to a tsunami.
It was the second-generation super mecha "Yaoguang," crafted by Mu Ran, signaling the bridging of the technological gap formed after Mu Feixing's death. The Empire had taken a significant lead over the Federation. External forces, who had anticipated the Empire's collapse due to the Yan and Li families' betrayal, now fell silent.
The Imperial citizens could not maintain their silence. They screamed, laughed, and danced, fully immersed in the feast. Cries of "Long live the Empire, long live Mu Ran, long live Master Mu Feixing" echoed continuously, and many citizens displayed light boards with the phrase "Severe Punishment for the Traitors." The stronger the Empire, the less they could forgive the traitors; they would hunt them down to the ends of the earth.
The flying camera zeroed in on a close-up of the Emperor. His eyes were moist, his cheeks flushed, and his face brimmed with unrestrained pride. The Fifth Prince and Mu Ran stood side by side, one smiling brilliantly and the other with a refined smile. Their identities had transformed from Fifth Prince and Fifth Princess Consort to Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort. The future of the Empire was placed on their shoulders. Public opinion showed that they were the most popular royal couple in history, receiving the loudest cheers.
The spectacle was grand, and everyone on the screen wore radiant smiles, which sent chills down Old Marshal Yan's spine. Mu Feixing had traveled thousands of miles, but it seemed unlikely that his purpose was merely to let them appreciate the military parade. What was he planning?
"You..." Old Marshal Yan began to speak, but Mu Yang appeared on the screen, excitedly saying, "The show is beginning, don't blink."
"What show? What the hell are you up to?" Yan Zhongkui asked urgently, but received no response. In the sky above the square, the five super mechas gathered together, back-to-back, facing five directions. They raised their pulse cannons and began continuous bombardment. The nearby imperial palace was shattered into pieces, followed by the military headquarters, the Department of Police and Politics, the Imperial Tower, the Upper and Lower Councils... All the iconic buildings crumbled under the bombardment, turning into giant, charred craters. Countless people were struck by shockwaves and stray bullets, collapsing in pools of blood.
The cheers were instantly replaced by screams. In the chaos, more people died under the trampling of their compatriots.
Helian Zhao, standing on the city wall, was ashen-faced and stunned, seemingly unable to accept the sudden turn of events. The Fifth Prince tried to pull Mu Ran into his embrace but was harshly pushed away. They bickered for a moment, and then a flying car appeared out of nowhere, whisking Mu Ran away amidst the wailing.
The Fifth Prince looked up at the sky, his expression shifting from confusion to horror, and then from horror to despair and self-reproach. He pulled out his personal mecha from a Interspatial Button, hoisted Helian Zhao onto his shoulder, and jumped into the cockpit in two or three steps. Under the cover of the royal guards, he swiftly evacuated.
To prevent assassination, the soldiers participating in the parade carried unloaded rifles, and their space buttons containing the mechas were handed over to the logistics department. Thus, even with hundreds of thousands of troops gathered, they were unable to mount an effective counterattack, let alone rescue civilians. The continuous bombardment transformed this sea of cheers into a living hell. Netizens watching the military parade were stunned.
However, this was merely the beginning. Soon after, old powers like the Federation, the Locke Empire, and the Kurt Alliance would carve up the Empire. More disasters would follow in quick succession...
"Motherfucker! Mu Feixing, you're not human, I'll tear you into a million pieces one day!" Yan Zhongkui kicked the chair to pieces, smashed the table, and roared with all his might. He had initially thought that Mu Feixing was merely using Mu Ran to seize imperial power, but he hadn't anticipated that he didn't care about the Empire at all. He destroyed it and the blood shed by countless ancestors.
Li Ziqian, Meng Kui, Ouyang Ye, Li Yu, and the others also had bloodshot eyes and ashen faces. Ming Rui trembled in Li Yu's embrace, realizing that compared to this scene, the issues with her family were trifling. Without the Empire, where would the families exist? Why did Mu Feixing do this? Why?
"I could build up the Empire with one hand and destroy it in an instant," Mu Feixing's handsome and scholarly face reappeared on the screen, smiling, "Master Qi, did you see? My achievements are far grander than you imagined. If you're willing, I can join hands with you to create glory. When one empire falls, we can build a second, a third, and you and I will be immortal."
Qi Ze covered his face, speechless for a long time. He was trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, preventing his body from trembling with anger. The scene had transformed from a garden of flowers to rivers of blood in an instant. It was eerily similar to the day his sect was destroyed? The long-forgotten nightmare returned, becoming a demon in his heart. Qi Ze lowered his hand, revealing bloodshot eyes, and spoke with a smile, word by word, "Mu Feixing, I'll fulfill your long-cherished wish and make you immortal."
Seeing the sky-piercing murderous intent in the youth's bloodshot eyes, Mu Feixing had to abandon persuasion, shrugging helplessly, "Regrettably, it seems we can only be enemies. Attack, leave only his head."
Mu Yang appeared on the holographic screen, nodding with a smile, "As you wish, Great-Grandfather."
The warship, floating silently in space, began a fierce assault. Following Qi Ze's instructions, the Neptune ship's commander used all the energy to support the shield, evading left and right. Qi Ze dispatched more than thirty miniature mechas and obtained a blank chip from Ming Rui. Holding it in one hand, he chanted incantations with the other.
His fingers flew, leaving afterimages fluttering. The originally gray-green chip emitted increasingly bright light. Ming Rui watched for a while before closing her sore eyes, asking softly, "Brother Qi Ze, what are you doing? Will we die here?"
"No." Qi Ze held back his last incantation, speaking calmly, "Good girl, go wait in the room. If you're really scared, you can hide under the blanket. Xiaohei will be with you."
"Xiaohei makes me fearless of anything." Ming Rui hugged the doll tightly, affirming, "With Brother Qi Ze here, we can definitely escape. Brother Qi Ze is the most powerful!"
Qi Ze chuckled lightly, taking out the last miniature mecha from the Interspatial Button and inserting the chip into the concealed compartment in its abdomen. The half-foot-tall mecha flew out of the warship through the channel. In the vast universe, it was so insignificant, like a speck of dust, attracting no attention. It nimbly avoided the bombardment, heading towards the core of the enemy formation â the Nether Emperor Mothership. Meanwhile, the other thirty mechas had already approached the enemy ships, circling around to the energy compartment area. They inserted their ten fingers, transformed into sharp blades, into the steel plates, slowly tearing them apart.
Qi Ze never hesitated to use high-quality materials. These miniature mechas' shells were all welded from super alloys and covered with intricate, layered formations. In terms of speed, defense, and attack, they were comparable to real mechas. Coupled with the ferocious effects of black crystal, they could unleash 200% of their combat power.
They specifically targeted the cruiser-class warships, ignoring the T6 mechas and cruisers. After ripping open the energy compartments, they only needed to fire a round of ammunition inside to paralyze these behemoths in a violent explosion. The shockwaves from the explosions overturned the surrounding warships, causing collisions and chain explosions. The originally neat formation instantly dissolved into chaos.
Mu Yang's cruel smile was replaced by panic. He frantically asked, "What's happening? Why are our warships suddenly exploding?"
"Reporting to the commander, we are searching for the cause. The energy compartments of two cruiser-class warships have been blown up and have completely lost their combat capability." Undoubtedly, this was a major disaster for Mu Yang, who had lost the Mu family's support. He undid his collar, panting heavily, his delicate face gradually turning into an unsightly grimace. Mu Feixing's virtual avatar, floating in mid-air, calmly sipped coffee.
"If I could easily capture Qi Ze, then he would not be worth a second glance. The more powerful he is, the more I yearn for him." Mu Feixing lifted his chin, closing his eyes, seeming to envision the future or savoring some exquisite thing.
"Great-Grandfather, what means did he use?" Mu Yang gritted his teeth and asked.
"Do not overlook any tiny speck of dust; if it enters the eye, it can make you weep." Mu Feixing smiled with interest. He did not care about the loss of this fleet, only wanting to witness Qi Ze's power firsthand. No matter how many tactics the other had, it was impossible to destroy all the warships. Once he was forced to his limit, the battle would end.
"Dust?" Mu Yang stared at the display screen, seemingly discovering something, cursing, "Shit! Are those mecha models? Why can they wander in space?" He immediately zoomed in on the screen and indeed saw a half-foot-long mecha model drilling into a cruiser's energy compartment and blowing it to pieces.
"Damn, what trick is this? How can a mecha model have such a powerful driving force? Not good, has my warship been hit too? Quickly, go check the energy compartment!" Mu Yang immediately sent several subordinates to inspect the energy compartment. However, the miniature mecha had already entered the control panel through the cable pipe, removing the chip from its abdomen and inserting it into the docking station.
Mu Feixing's figure flickered for a moment before returning to normal. He sensed that something was amiss. Just as he put down the coffee cup, he saw a circular pattern appear beneath his feet. The pattern was densely packed with golden runes, which began to rotate along a mysterious trajectory. They separated and recombined, changing every second.
Mu Feixing's phantom was trapped within the pattern, unable to escape no matter what he did. Since becoming a ghost and breaking the seal on Tianzhu to enter a wider Star Network, he felt like a dragon in the abyss, invincible. The current situation was something that could never have happened in his expectations, yet it was happening in reality.
What could confine an intangible and traceless ghost? No, it seemed more than just confining; it was crazily sapping his soul power! Mu Feixing was finally scared, berating, "What are you standing there stupidly for? Come save me!"
"Great-Grandfather, how do I save you?" Mu Yang circled around the holographic projection like a headless fly.
"Shut off the operating system, quickly!" Mu Feixing ordered decisively. Meanwhile, his body was losing color, the image becoming blurred in the shaking. Immense fear filled every corner of his heart, nearly costing him his sanity. He was fearless of anything except death. And if he could not escape this time, it might lead to eternal death.
"This is the command ship, how can we shut off the control system?" Mu Yang hesitated.
"I order you to shut it off immediately!" Mu Feixing's handsome face was distorted beyond recognition. Mu Yang saw his uncontrolled state for the first time, startled. He hurriedly pressed the off button but found that the ship had completely lost control. It was turning, activating all the gun turrets, draining the energy compartment and Great-Grandfather's soul, targeting its own formation, and firing rounds.
The tragedy on the Imperial Star was being replayed beside the perpetrator at that very moment...