162: Various changes

While Zhang Huaiyuan was in seclusion in the Time Spire, the Empire, the Free Star Alliance, and other forces were also surging with hidden undercurrents.

At the end of the stars, at the bottom of a spatial rift where not even a speck of starlight existed.

Relic No. 3, known as one of the most dangerous ruins, was located here.

"Lomond, an unfilial descendant of the 37th generation, implores the ancestor to appear and meet."

The current strongest Transcendent, the Emperor of the Star Dome Empire, was currently kneeling respectfully on ground composed of what seemed like writhing flesh.

Scattered around were some wandering insect beasts.

Most were less than five meters long, dark red in color, with blade-like forelimbs and hideous mouthparts greedily licking the pink mucus secreted on the ground, ignoring the kneeling Lomond.

Even so, Lomond still felt a layer of fine goosebumps on his body; a frantic warning instinct arose from within, and he dared not make any extra movements.

He had seen with his own eyes how these seemingly weak creatures could instantly slice an intruding SSS-Rank Star River Beast into pieces.

As the strongest person in this world, he even doubted if he was a match for any one of them.

A long time passed.

A large biological building covered in thick scales, where thick blood vessels could be clearly seen on the surface, shook slightly.

A human face pushed out from the surface of a blood vessel wall, madness flickering in its crimson eyes.

It made a hoarse, low voice:

"My descendant... why have you come here again?"

"Ancestor..."

Although it wasn't his first time, every time he saw his ancestor like this, Lomond couldn't help but feel a surge of fear. He could only lower his head and say respectfully:

"Our world is about to be attacked by a higher plane. I implore the ancestor for mercy."

"Go back..."

The hoarse voice sounded again:

"This place no longer belongs to us. According to the ancient treaty, we cannot interfere with any actions of the new owners..."

"Ancestor!"

Emperor Luo kowtowed abruptly, his voice firm:

"I do not expect you to take action. I only ask that you give me the qualification to preserve my dignity and decency. I beg of you! I beg of you!"

The space fell into silence.

Only the licking sounds of the insect beasts and the constant sound of kowtowing remained.

After a long time, the hoarse voice sounded again. The bloodiness in the eyes of that face intensified, and the voice became intermittent, as if it were being forcibly maintained.

"My... descendant... do you understand the consequences..."

"I am willing to bear them."

Emperor Luo raised his head, looking directly at the ancestor's face on the flesh building, and said without hesitation.

"In that case..."

The face lowered its eyelids, and a small opening cracked in the building below, from which a larva less than a centimeter long crawled out, quickly running to Lomond's feet along the flesh-like ground.

Then, it crawled all the way to his ear, burrowed inside, and disappeared... The Orr Empire.

Unlike the Star Dome Empire and the Free Star Alliance, this nation was in a state of almost complete isolation, refusing all communication with the two countries.

But miraculously, their technological level had always remained at the forefront.

Currently, inside an extremely hidden secret room.

A luxuriously dressed man stared fervently at a translucent crystal ball in the center of a magic circle.

"Karmot."

Suddenly, an indifferent and arrogant voice rang out from inside the crystal ball.

The man's expression changed, and he quickly knelt on the ground, saying somewhat flatteringly: "Master, your loyal servant awaits your orders."

"The final trial is about to begin. I must take first place in this assessment. Are you ready?"

"I have been ready for a long time, Master!"

The man said with fanatical expression: "The Orr Empire's ten main legions and three thousand large fleets are waiting to serve you at any time, Master!"

"Very well. If I achieve the final victory, I will give you a chance to escape your slave status."

The voice in the crystal ball said with satisfaction.

Hearing this, the man's expression became even more respectful as he lowered his head and reported:

"Master, the Star Dome Empire and the Free Star Alliance seem to have realized your imminent arrival. They have allied with each other. I wonder if this will affect your plan."

"No matter. Just two natives; they have no say in anything."

Disdainful laughter rang out from the crystal ball.

"Naturally. Those frogs in a well, how could they understand your greatness?"

The man immediately agreed.

"Hehe... Alright, cross-dimensional communication consumes a lot of energy and is easily detected. I'll make it short."

The voice in the crystal ball sounded again:

"I need you to do two things."

"Master, please give your orders."

Karmot lowered his head respectfully... Meanwhile, in the Free Star Alliance, on Lihua Star.

"137... 352... 533... a total of 796 large storage stars worth of high-quality energy stones."

The Statue of Liberty quietly took stock of the currently reserved resources.

"Not enough... far from enough... His Excellency Zhang Huaiyuan hopes I can prepare enough energy... I must not let him down."

"Strategy Plan One generated: Open source."

"The ten major chambers of commerce of the Star Alliance have illegally participated in reselling restricted arms and promoting the dregs of the former leader's Interstellar Pirate culture... suspected of smuggling, monopoly, and other crimes totaling 41 counts. A fine of 7,326 trillion Star Coins is imposed, to be executed immediately."

"Proposer: Statue of Liberty."

"Approver: Statue of Liberty."

"Final verification: Statue of Liberty."

"Judgment passed."

"Order Colonel Gore to lead the fleet and collect the full amount of the fine immediately."

"Strategy Plan Two generated: Reduce expenditure."

"Cut a group of staff whose basic quality scores are consistently below 70, and promote a group of personnel above 85. The vacancies will be temporarily replaced by intelligent lifeforms."

"Strategy Plan Three generated..."

While the Statue of Liberty was working hard to accumulate energy and reduce expenses, Asroth was not idle either.

Following Zhang Huaiyuan's instructions, he deployed over one hundred million engineering robots into various surrounding unclaimed star systems, centered around the Peaceful Passage.

Those engineering robots, which had undergone multiple modifications, were like a plague of locusts; in just three days, they could strip a normal planet's resources bare.

However, most planets in these unclaimed star systems were resource-poor. Even with such efficiency, the resources collected were still far below expectations.

"Master said that one must exercise subjective initiative..."

The engineering robot possessed by Asroth stood on a planet outside the border of the Orr Empire, its eyes flickering as it watched the cruising spaceships.

"I have also switched to a Quantum Server and the 'Miracle' algorithm. My capabilities have exceeded the Intellectual Brain. As long as I am careful, the intelligence of the Orr Empire shouldn't be able to discover me..."

"Even if I am discovered, as long as I activate the self-destruct program in time, it won't be able to find my core..."

The indicator lights of the engineering robot gradually stabilized, and small teleportation pods quietly crossed the border line.

"Master, I will definitely prove that only I am your most excellent and useful assistant!"

...