Chapter 174: Sudden Storm

Tu Rui's files indeed solved a great mystery for Li Yu. At the very least, they gave him an understanding of those people, ensuring he wasn't completely in the dark, ignorant of who was even hunting him.

"This person is quite interesting..." Peyton heard the audio from the video Li Yu was playing out loud. It piqued his interest slightly, and he even sounded a bit envious as he spoke.

"To be able to leave behind such an intriguing multiple-choice question right before heading to one's death... that must feel incredible."

Ignoring Peyton's momentary lapse in sanity, Li Yu shook his head. No matter what, he needed to deal with the matter at hand first.

"I hope your son is tough enough..."

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, the System Log refreshed three times. The Second Clone was currently escorting the Mind Scepter during its transfer. The process had been smooth sailing so far, smoothly awaiting the moment the Mind Scepter fell into the hands of the Serpent Shield Bureau.

Clone One, on the other hand, was thrown into utter chaos and commotion by Batman. For three consecutive days, he had been fleeing Batman's relentless pursuit.

He clearly wouldn't even need to expend much effort to kill Batman.

However, because of Batman's various allies, Clone One had no choice but to swallow his pride and live in constant hiding. Without a normal, legitimate identity, it was incredibly easy for Batman to track him down.

Obtained Special Item — Batmobile: An extravagantly designed Batmobile, though its technological level is quite low.

It had once crashed directly into Clone One, yet the Batmobile ended up blowing itself apart.

Obtained Special Item — Batarang: A bat-shaped metal dart with lackluster lethality.

It had once struck Clone One, feeling like nothing more than a light tickle.

Obtained Special Item — Kryptonite Fragment: Superman's nemesis, a shard of kryptonite crystal. Although logic dictates that kryptonite should be extremely rare after the destruction of Krypton, Batman can always seem to get his hands on some.

Indeed, Mr. Batman had once suspected that this guy might be Superman's fellow townsman, prompting him to use a Kryptonite Fragment against Clone One. Naturally, the result was completely useless.

Li Yu flipped through the System Log, a grin stretching from ear to ear. This was the proper script for Clone One, unlike his own situation in the Real World where his life hung by a thread every single day.

Whether Clone One was running a women's shelter in another world or founding some Fatherland Society, how could he possibly stand by and watch?

He wasn't jealous; he simply didn't want to see innocent people ruined by Clone One. Li Yu gave himself a mental thumbs-up, feeling highly righteous.

Over these seven days, Li Yu consumed a massive amount of Gene Development Potion, using roughly five hundred vials and spending about one hundred million Star Coins.

This was because, toward the end, basic-tier development potions could no longer satisfy his body's requirements, forcing him to purchase advanced Gene Development Potions.

Although they were both targeted at C-Class Lifeforms, the prices rose exponentially. He vaguely remembered that purchasing a C-grade Gene Chain had only cost him around four hundred million Star Coins.

However, the effects were extremely prominent. In just a brief seven days, he directly pushed his Gene Development Progress to the limit, allowing Li Yu to reach the C+ Class.

This was a towering metal building. Mangu had rented out four upper and lower floors to serve as a base, knocking down the barriers between them to make the entire space appear exceptionally vast.

Standing in front of the spaceship, Mangu voiced his confusion. "Using a Gene Development Potion too early leads to a buildup of Drug Resistance in the body. Many wealthy and powerful individuals only use Gene Development Potions after reaching the B-Class Lifeform stage."

The materials used to manufacture development potions were fixed. Whether low-grade or high-grade, the only difference between the potions lay in their concentration; the base ingredients were largely identical.

This meant that the Drug Resistance accumulated from using Gene Development Potions as a C-Class Lifeform would carry over to the B-Class stage, thereby reducing the effectiveness of B-grade development potions later on.

If it weren't for Drug Resistance, the Interstellar Society would likely have long since degraded into a state where B-Class Lifeforms were as common as dogs, and A-Class Lifeforms roamed everywhere.

He believed Li Yu was being far too impatient. There was absolutely no need to accelerate his Gene Development Progress so aggressively; daily training could also advance it slowly over time.

Li Yu, however, didn't care about this at all. He fundamentally didn't rely on Gene Development Potions anyway. It was only because his clones hadn't been very helpful recently that he resorted to using the potions.

As for the future? He trusted that his clones wouldn't disappoint him forever.

"It's fine. I have my own plans," Li Yu replied with a hint of anticipation. Bidding farewell to the others, he entered his spaceship, firmly locking the Blast Door and adjusting himself to his optimal state.

The Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Gene Chain was slowly injected into his body. A moment later, an avalanche of agonizing pain erupted from deep within his core.

Li Yu had long prepared himself mentally for this. Gritting his teeth, he endured the agony that would have caused an ordinary person to faint instantly, doing his best to sense the transformations happening within his cells and genes.

His body began to slip slightly out of control. Flames and Electric Arcs danced across the surface of his skin. His vision blurred, and the pain radiating through his brain grew intense.

It felt as though a scorching, red-hot iron rod had been violently shoved into his skull and was continuously stirring, causing his brains to boil.

...

In the Inuit Hub Outer Space, ripples spread through the Void out of nowhere, gradually expanding to encompass a radius of several hundred kilometers. This was followed by a sheer compression of space before it violently released.

A massive armada of warships materialized out of thin air. One-kilometer-long Frigates, Destroyers, Engineering Ships, Battleships, and Defense Ships escorted a gargantuan Mothership at the center.

Its purple and gold color scheme radiated absolute nobility. This magnificent and unimaginably expensive super dreadnought was reinforced with twelve layers of large-scale forged amethyst plating. Its sturdiness was such that even the full-force attacks of a B-Class Lifeform wouldn't leave a single scratch.

It was equipped with numerous Anti-Air Energy Turrets, as well as one of the crowning technological achievements of the Amethyst Civilization—the Amethyst Neutron Emitter.

This weapon, which could rival a Star-Destroying Cannon, was the subject of countless terrifying rumors among neighboring civilizations.

All the spaceships near the Inuit Hub blared with warning alarms; the Mothership's inherent Interference Device was causing their systems to crash.

Countless Interstellar Travelers began to panic. Out in the boundless vacuum of space, any malfunction on a ship immediately equated to a Life-and-Death Crisis.

"Please do not panic, passengers. This is the Purple Crystal Royal Fleet. They will not pose any threat to you."

"Please do not panic, passengers. This is the Purple Crystal Royal Fleet. They will not pose any threat to you."

After the initial uproar on the local channels, successive broadcasts rang out, pacifying the hordes of frightened Interstellar Travelers.

They gazed up through their viewports at the colossal Mothership. The ambient light of the Inuit Hub illuminated the ship's metallic hull, refracting magnificent and majestic colors.

The fleet sailed silently through the Starry Sky, yet their sheer presence made everyone shudder involuntarily.

Inside the Mothership, Eric remained in his private quarters. The crystal embedded in his forehead reflected a dazzling brilliance as he faced the translucent screen mounted on the wall.

His voice was clear and gentle. "The people sent to escort Kansa will be delayed for a while. You have one hour. Once this time passes, you will have no more opportunities."

"Good..." the figure on the screen nodded. If any other High Echelon fleet commander had been present, they would have been utterly horrified to see the son of the Amethyst Emperor conversing so amicably with Prince Saster.

Subsequently, the figure asked with profound interest, "I didn't expect you to join forces with me. Do you have any interest in overthrowing that old geezer's rule?"

Eric shook his head, the luxurious purple robes draped over his shoulders shimmering faintly. His tone was placid. "I have no intention of betraying my father."

"Haha..." Prince Saster burst into laughter. "No intention of betraying him? Then what exactly are you doing right now?"

"The Amethyst Core appearing within the Amethyst Civilization right now is not a good thing. The Star Glory Empire is keeping far too close an eye on us," Eric stated calmly. "This Amethyst Core could very well become the fuse that ignites a conflict between the Star Glory Empire and the Amethyst Civilization."

"Are you certain it isn't because of the incident with Nelly?" Prince Saster probed deliberately.

Eric's expression shifted slightly, his gaze turning notably colder. "Your Highness seems to have quite a bit of experience in this regard. Did Miss Nelly perhaps learn it from the Princess Consort?"

Prince Saster's boisterous laughter ceased instantly. What did he mean by having a lot of experience? What did he mean by learning it from the Princess Consort?

"Wait for my news..." Eric didn't bother to continue his mockery. He terminated the transmission, straightened out his attire, and walked out of the room with a perfectly measured smile curving the corners of his lips.

"Greetings, Your Highness Eric!"

"Greetings, Your Highness Eric!"

"..."

The stream of respectful greetings continued uninterrupted until he entered the Command Center. Only then did the reverence in the eyes of the soldiers behind him slowly fade away, serving as undeniable proof of Eric's immense popularity.

Back at Mangu's base, Kansa also saw the arrival of the Purple Crystal Royal Fleet on the news. Every single media outlet in the Inuit Hub was broadcasting the event.

The monolithic silhouettes of the Purple Crystal Royal Fleet could be clearly seen directly from within the Inuit Hub. Thus, he was preparing to bid Li Yu farewell and depart.

"He went to integrate a B-grade Gene Chain?" Kansa asked, his expression flashing with surprise upon hearing the news from Mangu.

Becoming a B-Class Lifeform was more than enough capital to allow one to walk unhindered in the vast majority of places.

"I'm leaving now. Please let him know for me later."

Mangu nodded, speaking in a seductive tone. "Go back with peace of mind. With the Thought Seal in place, no one will be able to probe your memories."

Kansa's expression shifted subtly. He nodded in silence. Mangu obviously hadn't brought this up out of nowhere; it was a subtle warning.

Stepping outside, he picked a random spot nearby and turned on his Smart Terminal. His location was instantaneously captured.

The next moment, the Smart Terminal rang, and Eric's avatar popped up. Kansa furrowed his brows. After hesitating for a second, he chose to answer.

"Little brother, it's been a while," Eric said warmly.

"It's been a while..." Kansa replied cautiously.

"You seem to have undergone some distinct changes," Eric pointed out, as if sensing something, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

Kansa: "..."

"The general has already dispatched personnel to pick you up. You'll be able to come home very soon," Eric continued.

The Purple Crystal Royal Fleet was simply too massive to dock within the Inuit Hub, so they could only send a detachment to retrieve Kansa.

Kansa remained silent, but Eric didn't seem to mind and soon ended the call.

Meanwhile, near a Shipyard in the Inuit Hub, Boiling Blood stared intently at the passing Interstellar Travelers, desperate to catch any trace of Kansa.

As his Smart Terminal suddenly vibrated, the deeply frustrated and exhausted Boiling Blood leaped to his feet. His eyes turned ferocious as he stared at a set of coordinates on the screen, clenching all four of his fists tightly.

"Finally, I've found you!"

"Everyone, today is the day we wash away our disgrace. No matter what, we must grind that Gelo and Kansa into mincemeat!"

He growled to the two Black-Armored Men, his tone suppressed under the weight of sheer rage and resentment.

The two Black-Armored Men looked at each other in dismay. Their mission parameters had changed a long time ago; as soon as they figured out what Prince Saster was looking for, they could just find a place to lay low.

Yet, after following Boiling Blood and the others around for seven full days, they hadn't gleaned a single piece of useful information.

"Wash away the disgrace!" the two declared coldly, their black Armor emitting a low hum.

They fully understood that this was their absolute last chance. They had to follow him and see if they could pry the answers out of Kansa's mouth.

The surrounding area was densely packed with metallic skyscrapers, largely dominated by interstellar Hotels and apartment complexes where droves of Interstellar Travelers chose to stay for short visits.

Kansa sat by the roadside, tilting his head up to watch the behemoth that was the Purple Crystal Royal Fleet. His gaze was somewhat erratic as he reflected on his recent experiences.

From the initial thrill of learning about the Amethyst Core, to his crushing defeat on Molcasar, to scraping out a desperate survival under Li Yu—scenes flashed through his mind. He knew he had changed a great deal.

He didn't even know if he should despise Li Yu or be grateful to him. To hold such complicated feelings toward another man made Kansa feel quite absurd.

Shaking his head, he reminded himself that, fundamentally, the two of them just shared a transactional relationship built on mutual benefit. Since it was all about profits, it was better to keep emotions out of it entirely.

Suddenly, a shadow blocked Kansa's line of sight. His pupils contracted sharply as an Electromagnetic Paralysis Net descended from the sky. Reacting with lightning speed, he drew the Purple Crystal Dagger from his waist and instantly slashed through the metallic mesh.

Not far away, the only two remaining Squad Members of the Sun-Hunter Squad were staring at him with deep vigilance.

'Fuck!' Kansa cursed inwardly. How could his luck be this awful, running straight into these two?

The Sun-Hunter Squad actually hadn't given up the search for him.

He didn't immediately deduce that his whereabouts had been sold out. After all, if someone had betrayed his location, there would definitely be more than just these two here; Boiling Blood and Nobus would have undoubtedly shown up as well.

Bang! Bang!

Energy bullets tore through the air toward Kansa. He scrambled to evade them. Since his Armor had been fractured during their last encounter, he wasn't currently wearing it.

A purple shield of light coated the surface of his body, while his dagger—which was only half the length of an arm—suddenly extended into a luminous blade. This was the unique ability granted by the crystal embedded in his forehead.

He had no intention of facing them head-on. Fighting single-handedly against two fully armed C-Class Lifeforms was a losing battle; he simply wasn't their match.

He bolted into the maze of towering skyscrapers nearby, dodging the relentless barrage of energy bullets while subtly altering his trajectory toward a specific location.

From a short distance away, Boiling Blood, Nobus, and the two Black-Armored Men watched the frantically fleeing Kansa with absolute indifference.

"Captain, are we just going to watch? I'm afraid Harry and the others will struggle to take Kansa down in a short time," Nobus asked, clearly confused.

Boiling Blood's tone was frigid. "Harry and the other one are just strong enough to pressure Kansa without completely overwhelming him. This prevents him from getting instantly pinned down before we can make our move."

"He will definitely try to find a way out as quickly as possible. And I am certain that Gelo is hiding nearby!"

He let out a cold sneer, his expression radiating absolute confidence that everything was firmly under his control.

Nobus hesitated for a moment. "But His Highness Prince Saster only ordered us to kill Kansa."

"Kansa, Gelo... both of them must die! And I will take back my Weapon!" Boiling Blood's eyes were completely bloodshot. To have been humiliated so thoroughly by a Prismatic Yellow-Eyed Remnant—how could he possibly swallow such an insult?

"But..." Nobus, being rather simple-minded, felt that just finishing the mission was enough. Why go through the extra hassle of killing Gelo too?

Boiling Blood glared fiercely, his bloodshot eyes locked squarely on Nobus as he nearly roared, "We have four B-Class Lifeforms on our side! I refuse to believe that bastard has the power to flip the heavens! I am going to break every bone in his body and force him to kneel before me!"

Nobus wanted to say something else, but seeing the venomous ferocity on Boiling Blood's face, he didn't dare press the matter any further.