Chapter 322: The Hongmen Banquet

The day of the conference has finally arrived.

On this day, the eyes of every second- and third-level civilization in the Milky Way Galaxy focused on that once‑unremarkable, nearly forgotten barren star system on the star maps.

Tens of thousands of fleets from the Milky Way Galaxy's major neutral civilizations and media organizations had already arrived at the system's outskirts days in advance.

They dared not come any closer, anchoring at a safe distance and pointing countless probes and ultra‑long‑range cameras at the pre‑designated negotiation zone in the system's centre.

A century‑defining negotiation that will shape the Milky Way Galaxy's future is about to be live‑streamed here, through their lenses, to billions of sentient beings.

At precisely 09:00 Yanhuang Time.

Space warped briefly, and a massive fleet leapt forward to the negotiation site first.

Leading the formation was the upgraded flagship of the Sirius Alliance, the "New Tanlang", successor to the "Tanlang".

Surrounding it were various flagships from forty‑seven rebel civilizations, each lavishly adorned, their hulls flashing the emblems of their respective cultures, exuding blatant ostentation.

Behind them stretched the United Escort Fleet, composed of millions of elite warships, arrayed in a dark, oppressive mass that radiated cold, formidable energy fluctuations.

Uralakas, the current leader of the Sirius Alliance, stood on the bridge of the New Tanlang, brimming with confidence.

He adjusted his sumptuous ceremonial attire, faced the camera, and flashed a victor's smile.

The other civilization delegates beside him wore equally swaggering expressions, clinking glasses to pre‑celebrate the forthcoming triumph, as if Yanhuang Civilization were already fish on their chopping board.

Another ten minutes passed.

Space on the other side also rippled.

However, the scene that emerged left everyone utterly astonished.

There was no massive fleet, no imposing formation—only a solitary handful of small vessels.

The lead ship bore Yanhuang Civilization's emblem, but its energy signature and hull structure revealed it to be an unarmed diplomatic shuttle.

This… is the display of the Milky Way Galaxy's new hegemon?

The live stream instantly erupted with unabashed snickers.

"Is that all? I expected a Tianjian fleet!"

"Looks like they're truly cowardly, not even daring to bring weapons."

"Outnumbered and weak, how pitiful."

Uralakas and his cohorts laughed uproariously, their gazes at the tiny ships dripping with contempt and disdain.

On the outskirts of Obscure Star Region‑X9, within two secret military bases concealed by warped space.

Ke Huang and Biji Lie were watching the live feed in real time via the spatial communication network.

"Hahaha!"

Ke Huang pointed at the lone Yanhuang vessels on the screen, trembling with laughter, "Biji Lie, did you see that? This is Qin Hao's sincerity! He can't even spare an extra escort ship! He's completely given up resistance!"

Biji Lie did not laugh; his energy form simply stared silently, the uneasy feeling in his heart resurfacing once more.

Yet everything before his eyes truly revealed no flaw.

Perhaps it was just his imagination running wild.

The negotiations officially began.

Li Jun, the newly appointed chief representative of Yanhuang Civilization, led several diplomats via spatial teleportation onto the temporary negotiation platform erected by the United Fleet.

Uralakas didn't even rise to greet them; he lounged back in his chair, adopting a condescending posture, and arrogantly read aloud the conditions they had long prepared.

"You must be Mr. Li! I'll spare the idle talk; here are the terms we're offering."

"First, Yanhuang Civilization must immediately disclose to the entire Milky Way Galaxy all core military technologies, including the Tianjian‑class warships, Phase‑Shift Shields, and Quantum Entanglement Bombs."

"Second, Yanhuang Civilization must dissolve its current supreme command and transfer authority to the Galactic Supreme Council, a body jointly formed by our forty‑seven civilizations, for oversight."

"Third, Qin Hao must stand as a war criminal and face a public trial before the Supreme Council!"

……

Each draconian clause was read aloud by Uralakas in a tone dripping with humiliation.

In front of the live feed, countless supporters of Yanhuang Civilization were so angry they could not speak, feeling immense humiliation and fury.

The vassal civilizations of the two great Empires, however, erupted in schadenfreude‑filled cheers.

Yet Li Jun, seated at the negotiation table, kept a steady smile, listening calmly and unhurriedly.

He even nodded intermittently, lifted his teacup for a sip, as if earnestly weighing the other side's demands.

This demeanor only emboldened Uralakas and his companions further.

They believed Yanhuang Civilization had been completely cowed, lacking even the courage to bargain.

After reading the final clause, Uralakas contemptuously thrust an electronic agreement document in front of Li Jun.

"All right, Mr. Li, those are our terms. Sign it now, and Yanhuang Civilization can retain a shred of dignity. Otherwise…"

He did not finish the sentence, but the threat was unmistakable.

Just as the entire Milky Way Galaxy assumed Li Jun would humbly sign the agreement,

he suddenly smiled.

It was a profound smile tinged with a hint of pity.

He then rose slowly, tidied his meticulously arranged collar, and, speaking into the micro‑communicator on his collar, uttered a sentence that left the entire audience—and the whole Milky Way Galaxy—stunned.

"Qin Consultant, they've finished their performance."

"Now, it's our turn."

The words barely left his mouth!

A sudden anomaly erupted!

Around Obscure Star Region‑X9, the vast, endless dark void of space abruptly tore open, spawning colossal dark‑golden rings without any warning!

Each ring dwarfed a star; within swirled tumultuous chaotic energy, exuding a terrifying aura that made the souls of all sentient beings shudder.

The star gate has opened!

In the eyes of the countless beings of the entire Milky Way Galaxy, stunned, horrified, and unable to comprehend.

Endless, pitch-black all over, with dark-red energy patterns flickering on the hull, the Heaven-Sword-class battleship,

Like a breached black tide, they surged forth from those mighty star gates!

Ten thousand!

One million!

One hundred million...

In less than ten seconds, the one hundred million main warships of the Yanhuang Civilization had already completed their assembly.

They formed an impenetrable giant spherical encirclement, completely sealing off the rebel civilization's United Fleet and all external media fleets!

The entire star field was instantly dyed black, the color of death!

Immediately thereafter, a towering holographic image, like a Creator God, appeared at the very center of the star field.

That was none other than Qin Hao's figure.

His expression was calm, his eyes icy, as if looking down upon a swarm of ants.

His solemn and indifferent voice echoed through all public channels, resounding throughout the Milky Way Galaxy.

"Everyone."

"Welcome to the final banquet prepared for you by the Yanhuang Civilization."