Chapter 400: Diplomatic Gambit and Intelligence

The opponent's reaction confirmed Qin Hao's speculation.

These ancient sixth-level civilizations indeed had some knowledge of the Overlord.

"I not only know, I have even fought its avatar." Qin Hao calmly threw out a bombshell.

He extracted a short segment of the video data from his earlier battle with the Overlord's avatar in the Virgo Supercluster and sent it to Xun Tian.

When seeing the gray giant finger that blotted out the sky and the image of Qin Hao activating his Only I Domain to sever it, Xun Tian's vast nebular entity underwent a violent contraction.

That was an expression of extreme shock and fear.

"This... this is... calamity!"

Xun Tian's voice was filled with astonishment.

"It... it has actually awakened?"

"Not only has it awakened, but it is also coming toward this direction."

Qin Hao added.

"I came here to find allies to oppose it."

"I have a technology that can effectively defend against the Overlord's memetic pollution."

Qin Hao threw out another bait.

He displayed to Xun Tian the scene of Nan Gong Lin constructing a mental bulwark to resist the memetic impact.

Seeing that pure mental power and the purified warriors, Xun Tian's breathing became rapid.

Memetic pollution!

"This is what all high-level civilizations fear most about the 'calamity'!"

"That is an unstoppable, unavoidable dimensional strike!"

"And now, this newly arrived Yanhuang Civilization actually has a way to defend against it?"

"At this moment, Xun Tian's gaze toward Qin Hao completely changed."

"From previous wariness and scrutiny, it turned into intense longing and importance."

"Mr. Qin Hao!"

Xun Tian's tone became unprecedentedly solemn: "I propose that we immediately cease fire!"

"The Council will formally recognize the legitimate status of the Yanhuang Civilization in the Sea of Stillness!"

"As for the security tax, it can be waived! We can even provide you with the resources needed for construction!"

"We only hope that you can share your experience and technology in resisting the calamity with us!"

Qin Hao had been waiting for exactly these words.

He pondered on the surface for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"This condition can be considered. However, technology sharing needs to be built on a sufficient foundation of trust."

"I hope to have more exchanges with the various members of the Council."

"No problem! Absolutely no problem!"

Xun Tian immediately agreed: "The Council will soon hold a welcome banquet, and I will personally introduce you to all members!"

A war capable of overturning the entire Laniakea layout was thus dispelled in this dramatic fashion.

Qin Hao knew this was only temporary.

In the face of the Overlord, their common enemy, they are temporary allies.

But once the Overlord's threat is lifted, or rather, in the process of opposing the Overlord,

"A new game of strategy could begin at any time."

He pretended to accept the other's terms, while secretly sneering inside.

"Share technology?"

"Wait until I copy all of your Council's technology and turn you into part of a collective—then what technology would you still lack?"

"The Laniakea Council's efficiency is very high."

"On the fifth day after the ceasefire agreement was reached, a grand 'welcome banquet' was held in a star system within the Council's territory."

"This banquet, nominally a welcome for the Yanhuang Civilization's accession, was in fact a collective debut and mutual probing of the major powers of the Laniakea Supercluster."

Qin Hao was invited to attend.

He did not bring a large entourage, only bringing Qian Yin and Nan Gong Lin.

When the three of them appeared in the splendid banquet hall, they instantly drew everyone's attention.

Inside the hall, representatives from the various sixth-level civilizations of Laniakea gathered.

Their forms were myriad and strange.

There were flame giants like Panhuo, liquid lifeforms like Poison Flow, crystal beings composed entirely of crystal, and even pure consciousness energy bodies floating in the air.

Without exception, their gazes toward Qin Hao were filled with complex emotions.

There was curiosity, awe, and scrutiny,

and also a hint of hostility that was hard to conceal.

The destruction of seven hundred billion warships was like a great mountain weighing on everyone's heart.

"Mr. Qin Hao, welcome!"

Chairman Xun Tian, in the form of an ordinary humanoid energy projection, came forward to greet him.

His attitude was even more enthusiastic than during their previous meeting.

"Let me introduce you: this is the Lingguang Master of the Jinghui Civilization."

Xun Tian pointed to a lifeform three meters tall, its entire body composed of seven-colored crystal.

"This is the Listener of the Wind Speaker Civilization."

He pointed again at a lifeform whose body seemed to be formed from converging stellar winds, its shape shifting and indistinct.

This is……

Xuntian enthusiastically recommended each member of the council to Qin Hao.

Qin Hao smiled on the surface, nodding to each of them in turn, without changing his expression.

But deep in his consciousness, he issued a command to the system.

【Scan Target: Representative of the Jinghui Civilization, 'Lingguang'……】

【Life Form: Crystal Life……】

【Technological Traits: Skilled in energy refraction and focusing, their warship's main gun technology is unique……】

【Scan Target: Representative of the Fengyuzhe Civilization, 'Lingtingzhe'……】

【Life Form: High-Dimensional Energy Aggregate……】

【Technological Traits: Mastering partial spiritual communication encryption technology, their intelligence network spans the entire star field……】

……

Every civilization representative he came into contact with had their racial information and technological traits instantly parsed by the system, establishing a detailed database.

These are precious intelligence that may be useful in the future.

The atmosphere of the banquet, under Xuntian's deliberate guidance, gradually became harmonious.

Some moderate-faction civilization representatives who were friendly toward the Yanhuang Civilization began to approach Qin Hao for conversation.

"Mr. Qin Hao, I have long heard that the Yanhuang Civilization's dimensional technology is unrivaled across the sea of stars; I wonder if there might be an opportunity for some academic exchange?"

A representative from the Xuezhe Civilization asked respectfully.

"Of course."

Qin Hao smiled and nodded, "The sharing of knowledge is the ladder of civilization's progress."

He casually threw out some basic theories on dimensional stability fields.

These theories are already public knowledge within the Yanhuang Civilization.

But for these sixth-level preliminary civilizations, they are as obscure as heavenly scriptures, profoundly abstruse.

The elder of the Xuezhe Civilization listened, entranced, his gaze toward Qin Hao filled with reverence.

"Too……too marvelous! Who would have thought dimensions could be used this way! Mr. Qin Hao, your wisdom shines like a galaxy!"

Qin Hao ignored the flattery; his gaze fell on a corner not far away.

There, several civilization representatives with clearly hostile auras gathered together, whispering about something, occasionally casting him icy glances.

They are the hardliners of the council.

Led by the Huoyun Civilization's superior civilization, they advocate harsh repression and exclusion of foreign civilizations.

Although they were once intimidated by Qin Hao's thunderous methods, they clearly remain unconvinced.

Qin Hao did not take the initiative to approach them.

He knows that friendly exchange is useless with these people.

Only force can make them learn respect.

At this moment, a towering figure resembling Earth's ancient dinosaur "Godzilla",

holding a cup made of liquid metal "wine," walked up to Qin Hao.

His skin was like black rock, a row of massive bone spines ran along his back, and his eyes flashed with the light of wisdom.

"Mr. Qin Hao."

His voice resonated directly through spiritual resonance, deep and powerful.

"I am the Titan of the Ges Civilization."

Ges Civilization.

In Qin Hao's mind, the data provided by the system immediately surfaced.

A very ancient civilization, renowned in the Laniakea Supercluster for strength and tenacity.

They have always maintained neutrality in the council.

"Mr. Titan."

Qin Hao raised the cup in his hand.

Titan offered no extra pleasantries; he glanced around, then spoke via an encrypted spiritual channel only the two could hear:

"Mr. Qin Hao, in your meeting with the council chair, you mentioned the calamity."

Qin Hao's eyes narrowed.

"Yes."

"You said it is moving toward our direction." Titan's voice became exceedingly solemn.

"Absolutely."

Titan fell silent for a moment, seemingly digesting this astonishing news.

"In fact, our Ges Civilization has also recently observed some anomalies."

He spoke slowly.

"In the direction of the Virgo Supercluster, our ultra-long-range gravitational wave detectors have picked up……some extremely regular anomalous fluctuations."

"Those fluctuations seem……as if an incomprehensibly massive lifeform is awakening, stretching its body."

"This discovery completely matches your description."

A glint of sharp light flashed in Qin Hao's eyes.

He had not expected that, besides himself, another civilization had noticed the Overlord's movements.

This Ges Civilization is stronger than he had imagined.

I tried to submit this discovery to the council.

In Taitan's tone, there was a hint of helplessness,

But most members thought it was alarmist talk. They have been too comfortable for too long, forgetting the cruelty of the universe.

They thought the catastrophe was just a legend sleeping in a distant star field, unaware that the shadow of destruction had already shrouded overhead.

So, you came to find me?

Qin Hao asked.

Yes.

Taitan's gaze turned scorching,

Mr. Qin Hao, your civilization possesses the power to resist catastrophe. I represent the Ge Si Civilization, hoping to form a secret alliance with you.

In future crises, we will watch over and assist each other.

Secret alliance?

The corner of Qin Hao's mouth curled into a playful smile.

This was exactly the result he wanted.

On this complex chessboard of the Laya Council, he needed a reliable pawn to help him stir up the winds and clouds.

The Ge Si Civilization is undoubtedly a good choice.

Yes.

Qin Hao readily agreed.

However, I need you to provide something.

Please speak.

I need detailed star maps of all member states of the Laya Council, as well as the deployment status of their main fleets. Qin Hao bluntly made this demand.

Taitan's body visibly stiffened for a moment.

This was already top-secret military information.

But he hesitated for less than three seconds before nodding heavily.

Deal.

For resisting catastrophe, these are all necessary.

The two completed an information exchange silently using mental power.

Qin Hao shared part of the basic data on the Overlord Meme Trait with Taitan.

And Taitan transmitted a piece of star map data with an extremely high encryption level to Qin Hao's personal terminal.

At the moment they formed the alliance, Qin Hao began his grand replication.

Within just one hour at the banquet, he took advantage of his contact with each representative to secretly copy the warship information of the council's core member states.

He packaged and sent this data to Qian Yin, who was far away in the Tranquil Sea.

Little Yin, did you receive the gift?

Received.

Qian Yin's voice carried a hint of excitement,

These level-6 civilizations' technology trees, while inferior to ours in dimensional theory, have many valuable aspects in energy application and materials science.

Give me three months, and I can develop an attack plan targeting the weaknesses of all their main warships.

Good. A flicker of coldness passed through Qin Hao's eyes.

Diplomacy is merely a means.

Information is the true blade.

The construction of the Yanhuang Heavenly Court was in full swing.

Under the suppression of the Dimensional Stability Tower, the core region of the Tranquil Sea has become a relatively safe haven.

One after another, massive bases, like a necklace in the starry sky, slowly rotated around the crystal planet.

Countless research labs, production factories, and military bases sprang up from the ground.

Here, it is rapidly becoming a strong fortress of the Yanhuang Civilization in the Laniakea Supercluster.

As the chief scientist of the entire Heavenly Court plan, Qian Yin has recently devoted most of her energy to researching those suppressed dimensional rifts.

Her intuition told her that this star field, which all civilizations regard as a 'cursed land,' hides deeper secrets.

Central Academy of Sciences, Number Seven Dimensional Laboratory.

Qian Yin was sitting in front of a huge detection instrument,

Her brows were tightly furrowed.

Before her was a three-dimensional star map composed of data streams.