Chapter 360: Great Silence, the Madness of Hundred Billion Warships

Because it completely tore apart the last shred of hope in everyone's heart.

They are not respected opponents.

They are not enemies worthy of attention.

They are merely……ants that dirtied the master's plate.

The atmosphere in the conference room was suppressed to the extreme.

Someone's breathing became ragged, someone clenched their fists but didn't know what to say.

Qin Hao scanned the entire room.

"Now, do you understand? We have no retreat, no luck."

"From now on, the Yanhuang Civilization, and the entire interstellar community, must enter a state of total war."

Qin Hao took a deep breath.

"I declare that, starting today, the Yanhuang Civilization will enter a 【Great Silence】 period lasting five hundred years!"

"Great Silence?"

Zhang Yunfeng froze.

Qin Hao nodded.

"Suspend all external exploration."

"Cut off all information exchange with extragalactic star systems."

"Contract all strength, pouring all resources of the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy into war preparation and technological advancement."

"We must reach the level of a Fifth-level high-stage civilization within five hundred years."

"Then, touch the threshold of a Sixth-level civilization."

"Otherwise, when that Overlord finishes his feast and turns to clean us ants……"

Qin Hao's gaze was ice-cold like a blade.

"The Yanhuang Civilization will cease to exist."

The entire hall fell silent.

Everyone was stunned by the madness of this plan.

Five hundred years?

Fifth-level high-stage?

Touch the Sixth-level threshold?

This……this is possible?

Qin Hao gave them no time to hesitate.

He looked toward Bi Jiale and Ke Huang.

"The First and Second Administrative Districts, and all surviving civilizations in the Andromeda Galaxy, will from today shift entirely to wartime production mode."

"I want you to increase Yanhuang's total industrial output by ten thousand times within five hundred years."

"Ten thousand times?!"

Bi Jiale's pupils suddenly dilated.

Ke Huang's face also showed an expression of disbelief.

"This……this is absolutely impossible!"

Bi Jiale's tone was full of incredulity.

"Even if we drain all resources from the two great galaxies, it would still be impossible……"

"I don't want to hear 'impossible'."

Qin Hao coldly interrupted.

"I only want results."

"In five hundred years, I want to see a ten-thousandfold increase in output."

"If it cannot be done……"

Qin Hao's gaze swept over the two.

"Then we'll replace the person doing it."

Bi Jiale and Ke Huang exchanged a glance.

Finally, the two gritted their teeth and nodded.

"Yes!"

Qin Hao then looked toward Qian Bowen and Mao Xinyang.

"The Science Academy Universal Mental Power Development Department."

"Within five hundred years, I want you to push Yanhuang's technological level to the peak of Fifth-level Civilization."

"At the same time, the average mental power of the populace must reach the S-grade standard."

Qian Bowen's breath caught.

"S-grade……that's the standard for mental power geniuses!"

"An ordinary person's mental power can at most reach A-grade; wanting to break through to S-grade requires resources and time……"

"I believe you can do it."

Qin Hao interrupted again.

Qian Bowen's brows furrowed slightly, but in the end he could only nod.

"I will do my utmost!"

Qin Hao's gaze finally fell upon Zhang Xianzhong and Zhou Shaoqing.

Within five hundred years, I want a fleet of a scale reaching a hundred billion, composed entirely of warships of God‑Warrior level or higher, an invincible armada.

A hundred billion?!

Zhang Xianzhong's voice suddenly rose sharply.

This is somewhat difficult; the construction cost of a God‑Warrior‑class warship is a hundred times that of an ordinary warship!

A fleet of a hundred billion God‑Warrior‑class warships would require resources… that's an astronomical figure!

Zhou Shaoqing also furrowed his brow.

This goal… is truly insane.

Qin Hao's face was expressionless as he spoke:

I don't want it this way either, but the situation is dire; I have no choice.

Of course, other civilizations must also contribute; their authority over resource allocation will be entirely handed over to the Yanhuang Civilization.

All opponents will be deemed guilty of treason against civilization and executed on the spot.

Those who slack off or work half‑heartedly will be treated the same.

In five hundred years, I want to see a brand‑new Yanhuang Civilization.

His voice echoed throughout the entire conference room.

Everyone felt an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Lao Luo took a deep breath and stood up.

Xiao Qin, what are your own plans?

Qin Hao fell silent for a moment.

I will enter a long‑term energy‑absorption mode once again.

At the same time, I will digest the insights gained this time.

For myself, and for the entire Yanhuang Civilization, I will seek the path toward a sixth‑level civilization.

He paused.

In five hundred years, I will return.

By then, I hope to see a completely renewed Yanhuang.

Not a bunch of ants waiting to die.

His words fell away.

Qin Hao's figure vanished from the conference room.

Only a group of high‑ranking officials remained, staring at one another.

When the conference room's holographic projection shut down and everyone's avatars disappeared, only Lao Luo and Zhang Yunfeng remained in the main control room.

They did not leave immediately, but instead fell silent together, digesting the shock Qin Hao had just brought.

After a moment, Lao Luo let out a long sigh, and the weariness on his face deepened.

He walked to the window, gazed at the brilliant starry sky outside, and spoke in a complex tone:

Old Zhang, don't you feel… that Xiao Qin's changes have become too great?

Zhang Yunfeng walked to Lao Luo's side, his expression equally grave:

Yes! I actually wanted to talk to you about this. He's becoming more and more… less like a person.

Since breaking up with Tang Xiao Lin and handing over the system, he has poured all his energy into his work, and now even more so…

Lao Luo's voice was low,

Hmm! The 'humanity' about him is fading, replaced by an awe‑inspiring yet alien presence.

I feel he is now like a precise and powerful machine, wholly oriented toward the civilization's survival; all joys, anger, sorrow, and happiness,

and all personal emotions seem to have been deliberately suppressed by him.

Is this a good thing? Zhang Yunfeng said, somewhat bewildered.

Lao Luo shook his head:

From the civilization's perspective, perhaps it is.

We need such an iron‑blooded, ruthless strongman to break through the impasse. Yet, from a personal standpoint, I can't help feeling pity for him.

He turned his head, stared straight at Zhang Yunfeng, and said, He has no wife, no children, and not even a friend he can confide in.

His life, his time, all his energy have been given to this civilization. He… is terribly lonely.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunfeng also sighed:

Yes, I've thought about this before. He has always been at the forefront, bearing pressures we cannot imagine.

This loneliness will eventually turn him into a pure god rather than a human.

Moreover…

He leaned in, lowered his voice, and said, I've heard Qian Yin ask about his condition several times in private; her concern seems to go beyond that of an ordinary subordinate.

Upon hearing this, Lao Luo's eyes flickered slightly, and a hint of realization appeared on his face:

Oh? Qian Yin has noticed this too? Then my suspicion isn't baseless.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, What do you think… of Qian Yin?

Zhang Yunfeng froze for a moment, then immediately understood Lao Luo's meaning.

Qian Yin?

Zhang Yunfeng repeated the name, a flicker of thought crossing his eyes.

Seeing that the other party gave no answer, Lao Luo continued:

Qian Yin has talent and ability, and more importantly, she understands Xiao Qin. She can keep up with his thinking, comprehend his decisions, and even anticipate his needs.

Lao Luo paused, then said, She possesses a rare resilience and wisdom that can resonate with Qin Hao, as well as the delicacy and tenderness characteristic of women.

Perhaps... only she can slightly pull Xiao Qin down from that icy divine throne, so he won't completely lose human warmth.

Zhang Yunfeng frowned, pondered for a long time, then slowly nodded:

That makes sense. We can't let him become an emotionless person; for civilization, that would be more efficient, but in the long run, we might lose our soul.

He looked at Old Luo and said, "Although doing this might interfere with Qin Hao's life, we can first test it."

Old Luo patted Zhang Yunfeng's shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness,

"Let's decide like this for now! After this crisis is resolved, I'll talk to him again."

"Fine! Our civilization's average lifespan has surpassed a million years, so we don't care about a few hundred years."