Chapter 406: Calm Before the Storm

No one spoke.

Even the Heavenly Patrol felt a bone‑chilling chill at this moment.

He realized that Qin Hao before him was no longer a newcomer needing the council's protection, but a terrifying existence capable of overturning the table.

If they didn't agree, Qin Hao really dared to open fire.

Moreover, no one here could withstand the Explorer.

"Good."

The Heavenly Patrol closed his energy‑formed eyes, his voice hoarse, "The council… agrees to the mediation plan."

"Relevant civilizations must, within three months, complete the transfer of star maps and the signing of resource agreements."

"Otherwise, I cannot guarantee that the Yanhuang Civilization's fleet will or will not pay a visit to your home star systems."

That was compromise, and also surrender.

The Dark Star representative went limp on the ground—finished, completely finished.

Ten star systems, plus a millennium of tribute, the Dark Star Civilization will, for the next ten thousand years, fall to second‑rate status and never recover.

Qin Hao nodded in satisfaction.

"It would have been better if we'd done this earlier—we're all civilized folk, no need to draw swords."

He waved his hand and cut off the communication.

The Explorer's engines ignited as it hovered in orbit, the massive ship silently slipping into higher‑dimensional space, just as abruptly as it had appeared.

All that remained was the council chamber in disarray and a group of civilization leaders with ashen faces.

After this battle.

Throughout Laniakea, no civilization dares to openly target the Yanhuang Civilization anymore.

Qin Hao, and the Yanhuang Civilization behind him, were given a new title—

"The Untouchable Iron Plate."

Their prestige in Laniakea reached a new peak.

Qin Hao, after ruthlessly extorting the council for a tidy sum, piloted the Explorer back to the Yanhuang Heavenly Court, heart full of satisfaction.

External troubles were temporarily resolved.

Next, it was time to devote all their energy to the true core mission.

The Heaven‑Mending Plan.

And to face the impending Overlord.

Number Seven Dimensional Laboratory.

Here had become the core of the entire Yanhuang Heavenly Court, and indeed of the whole Yanhuang Civilization.

Qian Yin and her Heaven‑Mending Plan team were almost around‑the‑clock, conducting research here.

When Qin Hao entered again, the laboratory's center already held a massive device.

It was composed of countless silver‑white metal parts, connected in a way that defied three‑dimensional logic.

At its center, a seven‑colored halo of light slowly rotated, emitting a palp‑raising dimensional fluctuation.

"Qin Hao, you've come!"

Seeing Qin Hao, Qian Yin's face showed a tired yet extremely excited smile.

Her eye sockets were somewhat dark, clearly she hadn't rested properly in a long time.

"Is this… the result of the Heaven‑Mending plan?"

Qin Hao looked at the device before him, sensing the faint aura of four‑dimensional space within, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He hadn't expected that, in such a short time, Qian Yin's team would have achieved such a breakthrough.

"Exactly!"

Qian Yin puffed out her chest proudly, "We've successfully deciphered thirty‑seven percent of the core technology of the Ascendants' base!"

"Although it's still far from enough, it's already sufficient for us to build a prototype of the first semi‑quattuor‑dimensional stabilizer!"

Qian Yin pointed at the ring‑shaped device and explained:

"It still cannot, as we envisioned, create a completely independent Absolute Domain."

"But it can already, within a limited range, forcibly anchor space‑time dimensions, forming a pseudo‑four‑dimensional protective layer."

"Within this protective layer, any attack below the fourth dimension—whether energy, matter, or information—will be repelled, distorted, and ultimately erased!"

"In theory, it can already grant immunity to the Overlord's regular memetic contamination!"

This conclusion made Qin Hao's eyes also light up.

Immunity to memetic contamination!

This is undoubtedly a tremendous boon for the impending showdown!

This means the Yanhuang Civilization's fleet and soldiers will no longer fear the Overlord's strangest, most indefensible attacks.

"Well done, Xiao Yin."

Qin Hao praised sincerely.

This was the first time he had so openly praised Qian Yin.

Qian Yin's cheeks flushed slightly, and a feeling of indescribable sweetness and satisfaction welled up in her heart.

For this moment, any amount of hardship is worth it.

"This is just the first step."

Qian Yin quickly regained her professional composure,

"Our next goal is to fully master the Ascendants' technology, turning this prototype into a true Absolute Domain generator!"

"And furthermore, to miniaturize it and integrate it into every one of our Divine Might‑class fourth‑generation warships!"

This goal is grand and arduous.

But at this moment, all the scientific personnel present are filled with confidence of victory.

To celebrate the stage‑by‑stage victory of the Heaven‑Mending Project, and to let the scientific staff who have been fighting day and night relax a bit.

Qin Hao specially approved a small celebration banquet.

It is held in an ecological garden within the Heavenly Court Base.

The long‑absent relaxed atmosphere envelops everyone.

People raise their glasses in celebration, envisioning the beautiful blueprint of the future.

Qin Hao holds a cup of clear wine, standing at the edge of the garden, gazing at the splendid starry sky over the distant Tranquil Sea.

Everything seems to be developing in a good direction.

The Yanhuang Civilization has found its footing in the new homeland, technology is advancing rapidly, and the crucial Heaven‑Mending Project has also achieved a major breakthrough.

As long as we give them a little more time, they will have enough confidence to face the Overlord's challenge.

However, just then.

"Beep—"

"Beep—"

"Beep—"

A piercingly sharp alarm suddenly exploded madly in Qin Hao's mind without any warning.

That was an alarm from the system!

The smile on Qin Hao's face froze instantly.

The wine cup in his hand was silently crushed into powder by an invisible force.

【Warning! Detected a violent and irreversible annihilation occurring in the string membrane ten billion light‑years away!】

【Warning! The Overlord's true form has broken free from the entanglement of the higher‑dimensional war!】

【The target is heading toward the Laniakea Supercluster.】

【Estimated time of arrival: one year.】

A series of cold system notifications made Qin Hao furrow his brows.

His gaze crossed the distance of hundreds of millions of light‑years toward that distant direction.

There, Qin Hao vaguely saw scene after scene.

Star after star, like candles blown out by the wind, lost all their light and heat.

Galaxy after galaxy, silently and soundlessly, was completely erased from the canvas of the cosmic starry sky.

It was as if an invisible giant mouth were there, holding a feast.

It will reach the Milky Way Galaxy before long.

This is far earlier than Qin Hao had anticipated.

The clamor of the celebration banquet seemed to be isolated in another world.

Qin Hao stood there motionless, only the fire of an unprecedented fervor burning in his deep eyes.

Qian Yin seemed to notice his abnormality and walked over worriedly.

"Qin Hao, what's wrong? Your complexion looks terrible."

Qin Hao did not answer.

He merely slowly raised his head, gazing at that expanse of starry sky as if trying to see through it.

Then, he muttered to himself in a voice so low it was almost inaudible.

"The Overlord is coming!"