Chapter 343: What a Huge Red Envelope

Inside the Command Center, the atmosphere was heavier than usual. On the massive holographic star map, a coordinate region marked "Guixu," located at the edge of the Milky Way's spiral arm, emitted a dim glow. On a side screen, encrypted data streams recently received from the reconnaissance vessel Pathfinder One continuously rolled by.

Lei Dong, Xia Wan, and several core personnel responsible for intelligence analysis and interstellar navigation stood before the projection, frowning deeply.

"The data is confirmed accurate—Pathfinder One has reached the outer perimeter of the Guixu Starfield," said the intelligence chief, his voice dry. "Preliminary observation results… are extremely grim."

Around the dim glow representing the Guixu region on the star map, countless red dots began to emerge—dense as a locust swarm—each representing a detected non-natural energy signature or physical target.

"Based on energy signature analysis, these targets belong to at least seven distinct known or unknown civilizations/factions!" the analyst pointed at the red dots, his tone incredulous. "They include the G. S. C. 'Pioneer' fleet emblem, insignias of several established interstellar Mercenaries, and even… the identification signal of the infamous Void Predators!"

"Moreover," added another scientist handling environmental analysis, "the Guixu ruin itself emits an extremely bizarre energy field. Its internal spatial structure is highly unstable, filled with countless space folds and energy turbulence we cannot comprehend. Pathfinder One dared not approach closer; preliminary judgment indicates that forced entry carries extreme risk—it could be instantly shredded or exiled to an unknown dimension."

Bad news came one after another.

The Guixu ruin was like a cake emitting deadly temptation, drawing countless greedy hyenas. Yet the cake itself was studded with sharp thorns and poison.

"Our Mother Ship, Hope, is powerful, but in such a complex situation, forcibly intervening would likely make us the target of a coordinated assault," Lei Dong said grimly, his face dark. He had not anticipated the situation would deteriorate this badly after the leak.

The original plan for a covert exploration now seemed nearly impossible.

"Could we attempt contact with some of these factions? Or exploit their rivalries?" someone suggested.

"Difficult," the intelligence chief shook his head. "These factions are a mixed bag, deeply suspicious of each other, and their goal is clear: what's inside the ruin. As newcomers who hold the 'Tiankong Guardian' card, in their eyes, we're likely just another piece of meat."

The conference room fell silent. The current predicament seemed utterly unsolvable.

At that moment, the Command Center's door slid open soundlessly.

Qin Feng entered slowly, still holding that cup of Clear Tea, seemingly endless. Mo Yu followed behind, his shoulder bearing Xiao Bao, asleep and mumbling as if savoring the taste of a lollipop.

All eyes immediately turned to him—especially Qin Feng. In the face of such a crisis, could this unfathomable being offer a solution?

Qin Feng walked to the star map, his gaze sweeping over the dense red dots and the central dim Guixu region. His face showed no surprise.

"Noisy," he remarked calmly.

Lei Dong stepped forward immediately, briefly summarizing the current predicament, his tone carrying a faint, almost imperceptible hope: "Mr. Qin, what do you think of this…?"

Qin Feng did not answer directly. Instead, his gaze shifted to Xiao Bao, drooling on Mo Yu's shoulder.

Mo Yu understood, gently patting his son's chubby bottom.

Xiao Bao stirred drowsily, rubbed his eyes, saw his father and the serious adults around him, and the dazzling star map before him. His little mouth puckered—he seemed slightly frightened by the atmosphere.

"Son, don't be afraid," Mo Yu grinned, pointing at the red dots on the map. "See those? Bad guys trying to steal our good stuff. Want to play a game with Dad?"

Xiao Bao blinked his big eyes, clearly intrigued by the word "game."

Mo Yu picked him up and placed him before the star map control panel, gripping his chubby little hand and pressing it onto a virtual button—the activation key for the hyperspace communication encryption channel linked to Pathfinder One.

"Come on, son, say this…" Mo Yu leaned close to Xiao Bao's ear and whispered a few words.

Xiao Bao didn't fully understand, but he imitated his father, speaking toward that virtual channel in his childish, lisping voice—words still not clearly formed—mumbling yet somehow carrying a strange power as he said:

"... Red envelope... so big a red envelope... coming..."

The moment he finished speaking—

Whrrrrm—!!!

Inside the Command Center, all instruments related to deep-space detection and communication suddenly went berserk—their screens' data streams twisted and jittered violently, chaotically! Alarms blared in succession!

"What's happening?!"

"Communication under super-strong interference!"

"Energy readings in chaos!"

Technicians scrambled in panic.

Meanwhile, billions of light-years away, at the outer edge of the Guixu Starfield—

The seven factions, whose fragile standoff had just moments before held steady, simultaneously detected an incomprehensible, untraceable, yet terrifyingly vast energy surge—like an invisible tidal wave—materializing out of nowhere in the center of the battlefield!

Then, something even more astonishing happened!

At the entrance of the Guixu ruin, its previously unstable space was violently torn open—as if ripped apart by an invisible giant hand!

A colossal, purely energy-formed, golden-glowing... "red envelope," slowly "squeezed" out of the spatial rift!

The "red envelope" was mountain-sized, its surface swirling with countless mysterious, arcane runes, radiating an overwhelming energy aura—both intoxicating and terrifying—as if it contained the entire treasure of some ancient deity!

This sudden, utterly incomprehensible "red envelope" instantly shattered all balance and standoff!

Greed, fear, madness—emotions spread like wildfire among the seven factions' fleets!

"What is that?!"

"So... so immense an energy source!"

"Grab it!!"

Someone fired the first shot.

Instantly, the already tense outer edge of the Guixu Starfield erupted into chaos!

The seven factions, forgetting their mutual vigilance and their caution toward the New Era, surged toward the giant "red envelope" like sharks scenting blood—energy cannons crisscrossed, warships collided violently and exploded in the void!

Chaos! Utter chaos!

In their scramble to seize the unknown "red envelope" that had appeared from nowhere, the seven factions turned on each other and began fighting among themselves!

The final transmission from Pathfinder One showed a battlefield blazing like dazzling (and deadly) fireworks, with the giant "red envelope" still hovering calmly at its center, radiating its alluring golden glow.

Inside the Command Center, silence reigned.

Everyone stared at the chaotic battlefield footage, then at Xiao Bao, now yawning in Mo Yu's arms, looking sleepy again—their minds completely frozen.

Red... red envelope?

So big a red envelope?

Coming?

So... just now, Xiao Bao's mumbled words, across infinite starlight, directly manifested in the Guixu battlefield a "red envelope" capable of sparking all-out war?!

What level of causal law manipulation is this?!

Mo Yu, seeing the stunned, ghost-faced expressions of everyone, proudly lifted his chin: "Well? Isn't this red envelope big enough? They'll be fighting over it for a while."

He patted Xiao Bao: "Son, well done! Dad'll buy you another box of lollipops later!"

Hearing "lollipops," Xiao Bao instantly perked up, waving his tiny hands: "Sugar! Bao wants sugar!"

Lei Dong opened his mouth, then struggled to utter: "... Thank you, Mr. Mo Yu. Thank you... Xiao Bao."

He suddenly felt that his earlier worries over "Black Gold" and the situation made him look like an idiot.

With this father-son pair, what scheme could possibly fail?

Using a single "red envelope" to spark a battle among the Seven Powers, clearing away obstacles for them...

This move was simply... ruthlessly wealthy!

Xia Wan also stared at the chaotic star map, her heart filled only with awe.

She finally truly understood what Mo Yu's words "I'm very lucky" and Xiao Bao's title "Child of Probability" truly meant.

This was no longer luck.

This was... the favorite of rules, the embodiment of cause and effect!

"Alright, the obstacles are temporarily cleared," Qin Feng's calm voice broke the silence of the Command Center. "Prepare. Wait until they've fought themselves to exhaustion, then we move."

He glanced at the chaotic star map and added, his tone still flat:

"Remember—take only the valuable things."

Everyone: "..."

So Mr. Qin's meaning was that after the Seven Powers bled each other dry fighting over the "red envelope," they'd go over to... pick up the leftovers?!

This... this was even crueler than bandits!

But... it sounded kind of great?

Lei Dong's eyes lit up instantly.