Chapter 340: Modu Annual Meeting

The three "trinkets" Qin Feng casually tossed out instantly filled the "black gold" shortfall of the Star-Chasing project, like three golden mountains, and even left a surplus. After wild elation and shock, Lei Dong immediately activated the highest-level confidentiality protocol and began carefully selling off these treasures in batches through several absolutely reliable interstellar black-market channels provided by Mo Yu.

The process went even smoother than expected. The three items were of such high caliber that the moment they appeared, they drew the attention of ancient beings or top-tier factions hidden deep within the Star Sea; transactions were completed almost instantly on the darknet at jaw-dropping prices. Vast quantities of untraceable encrypted digital currency and rare hard currencies flowed quietly into several secret accounts controlled by the New Era.

With ample funding, the preliminary preparations for the Star-Chasing project took flight. The finest mercenaries and alien experts were recruited under generous terms; customized deep-space reconnaissance vessels and specialized equipment began construction in secret starports; intelligence on the Guixu Starfield poured in like snowflakes, though it was hard to tell truth from falsehood, at least they were no longer completely in the dark.

Inside the Base, everything accelerated smoothly and orderly.

Amid this tense yet hopeful atmosphere of preparation, an invitation from outside reached the New Era's high command.

The invitation came from Huaxia's business titan—the Lin Group. The group's operations spanned energy, finance, high technology, and it had deep collaborations with the New Era on multiple civilian tech conversion projects, also serving as one of the Base's key financial and resource supporters.

The Invitation Letter invited the New Era to send a representative to the Lin Group's annual business summit and charity gala in Modu. This was a routine commercial event, but the invitation's closing note specifically requested that Miss Xia Wan, the Tiankong Guardian, grace the occasion with her presence, as Chairman Lin Zhenan of the Lin Group longed to speak with her in person.

This request seemed subtly odd.

In the conference room, Lei Dong projected the gilded Electronic Invitation onto the light screen, turning to Xia Wan and several core advisors.

"The Lin Group's annual meeting is of high caliber; global business and political elites will be present," analyzed an advisor handling external relations. "They specifically requested Xia Wan—her motives are likely not pure. Lin Zhenan is an old fox; he doesn't move without profit. He probably wants to leverage Xia Wan's current global prestige to bolster the Lin Group's influence. Or… he may have heard rumors and wants to probe our foundations."

Xia Wan was the symbol of the New Era and one of humanity's anchors against the unknown; her whereabouts and safety were paramount and could not be risked in such public commercial events.

"Decline it," suggested another advisor. "Our focus is the Star-Chasing project—we shouldn't invite unnecessary complications."

Lei Dong nodded; he too leaned toward declining. He was about to speak.

"It wouldn't hurt to go."

A calm voice came from the corner of the conference room.

Everyone turned to see Qin Feng, seemingly having appeared there without notice, still holding his teacup.

"Mr. Qin?" Lei Dong was surprised. "You mean… let Xia Wan attend?"

"Mm." Qin Feng sipped his tea, his gaze seemingly piercing through the walls toward the glittering eastern metropolis. "Modu… is interesting."

He didn't say why, but since he spoke, this trip was no idle gesture.

Lei Dong immediately changed his mind: "If Mr. Qin thinks it's fine, then we'll arrange it. Max security level, strict secrecy on the itinerary. Xia Wan, what do you think?"

Xia Wan had no interest in attending commercial events, but since Qin Feng had spoken, she had no objection: "I follow the gentleman's and the command's arrangements."

The matter was settled.

A few days later, a specially modified stealth aircraft, equipped with short-range space-jump capability, quietly landed at a secluded private airstrip on the outskirts of Modu under cover of night.

Accompanied by a lean team of plainclothes guards, Xia Wan rode into the radiant eastern pearl. She watched skyscrapers and neon billboards flash past the window, feeling the distinctly different urban atmosphere—full of earthly desires and vitality—compared to the Base. Her heart remained calm. To her, this place was no different in essence from the perilous alien battlefields—only the rules changed.

The Lin Group had booked the most luxurious hotel along the Huangpu River. Inside the banquet hall, fragrant perfumes and powdered faces mingled with clinking glasses; global business magnates and social elites gathered, the air thick with the scent of money and power.

When Xia Wan entered the banquet hall under the respectful guidance of a Lin Group executive, the previously noisy hall fell silent for a moment.

She had made no effort to dress up—still wearing a simple, sleek, slightly tech-inspired silver-white outfit that clashed with the glittering ladies around her. Yet her exquisite beauty, especially her deep, star-sea-like eyes that seemed to pierce the soul, and her naturally radiating transcendent calm, instantly became the center of attention.

Countless gazes turned toward her—filled with curiosity, scrutiny, shock, and even a hint of barely perceptible awe. Legends of the Tiankong Guardian had spread through various channels among elite circles, but seeing her in person delivered a visual and spiritual impact far beyond imagination.

Lin Zhenan, the Lin Group's chairman—a vigorous old man with sharp eyes—immediately stepped forward with a warm, beaming smile.

"Miss Xia Wan! Your presence honors us! Welcome, welcome!" Lin Zhenan gripped Xia Wan's hand tightly (Xia Wan withdrew it without expression), his tone perfectly balanced between flattery and warmth.

"Chairman Lin, you're too kind," Xia Wan nodded slightly, her demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.

Lin Zhenan personally led her to the head table and introduced her one by one to several distinguished guests. These powerful figures, who ruled their own domains, all softened their edges before Xia Wan, behaving with unusual courtesy, even a touch of caution.

The banquet proceeded as scheduled—speeches, awards, charity auction… Xia Wan sat quietly, as if forming her own world, out of sync with the surrounding bustle, yet impossible to ignore.

She sensed countless hidden gazes observing, evaluating her. Lin Zhenan repeatedly brought up the New Era's future direction and cutting-edge tech projects, seemingly casually, trying to extract information.

Xia Wan's replies were flawless—polite yet revealing nothing sensitive.

Her greater attention was on sensing the ambient energy in the hall. According to Qin Feng's words, this place was "interesting." She indeed felt several extremely subtle, yet utterly alien energy fluctuations hidden beneath the glittering chaos—some brimming with greed, some with scrutiny, and others… faintly linked to Kunlun, to the stars.

It seemed this "Modu annual meeting" was indeed not simple.

Just as the charity auction reached its climax, a piece of ancient jade sold for a staggering price, leaving the crowd in awe—

Sudden change!

The banquet hall's brilliant crystal chandelier flickered violently, then abruptly went dark!

The entire hall plunged into darkness!

Panic erupted—screams and chaos filled the air!

"What's happening?!"

"Power outage?"

"Security! Security!"

In that instant of chaos, Xia Wan clearly sensed the hidden energy fluctuations suddenly sharpen and intensify. One of them radiated a cold, lifeless aura—like a venomous snake emerging from its hole—clearly targeting the head table… targeting Lin Zhenan!

Assassination?!

Xia Wan's eyes hardened; her faint golden Guardian Power instantly surged around her.

Yet just as she prepared to act—

Snap!

A crisp finger-snap echoed abruptly in the darkness.

The next moment, the extinguished crystal chandelier reignited—its light even more brilliant than before!

The panicked crowd fell silent, glancing around, still shaken.

Before the head table, a new figure had appeared.

A young man in a flamboyant silver-gray robe, long hair flowing, a carefree smirk on his lips—Mo Yu. One hand still in the snap position, the other holding a man dressed as a waiter, now with rolled-back eyes, foaming at the mouth, convulsing violently.

Mo Yu casually tossed the unconscious "waiter" like garbage to the rushing hotel security, then turned to Lin Zhenan, pale-faced, and the stunned guests, flashing a brilliant smile:

"Sorry, everyone. Minor mishap."

"Our head of security here is a bit too zealous—he can't resist acting when he spots suspicious characters. Didn't frighten you, did he?"

As he spoke, he winked at Xia Wan.

Xia Wan: "..."

Lin Zhennan and the guests: "..."

Company? Security captain?

Looking at Mo Yu's utterly matter-of-fact expression, then at the servant on the ground who was clearly no ordinary person, everyone felt their brains were failing them.

This "Modu Annual Gathering" was destined to be unforgettable to many.