Chapter 148

Councilor Yan Qingqing……

At this moment, Lin Qing's mind flashed through scene after scene from his past life.

During the apocalypse, struggling for survival, making enemies was perfectly normal.

Some people, even in the apocalypse, radiated the light of humanity, as if born to lead humanity toward enlightenment.

Others were naturally suited to this brutal, survival-of-the-fittest chaos, freely dominating and harvesting the lives of others.

Most people resorted to any means necessary to survive, abandoning their humanity.

Lin Qing had always felt lucky—he had the talent of Entropy Reversal, plus a powerful soul, which allowed him to survive the apocalypse still acting like a human.

But human hearts are hard to fathom.

Even with reminders from shifts in order and hierarchy, he had failed back then to see through that dangerous disguise, unable to tell who was truly the monster who had abandoned humanity.

Lin Qing calmed his thoughts and merely smiled: "I only happened to hear about it. Weren't the Top Three Families also part of the Illuminati once?"

The Illuminati was founded during the apocalypse, aiming to help humanity find a bright future amid ruin; at that time, most of humanity's elite were members of the Illuminati.

"Yes."

Xu Shaofeng nodded slightly and said: "Of the Twenty-Four Families, some survived the apocalypse and were among the first in 2047 to make contact with extraterrestrial civilizations—naturally, they were also part of the Illuminati."

"That's quite illuminating," Lin Qing chuckled. "People of all kinds."

"Back then, many in the Illuminati were survivors of the apocalypse."

Xu Shaofeng sighed: "Those who survived the apocalypse often had no scruples. Figures like Director Qi were rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. From the start, their ideologies clashed, so eventually they fractured."

Lin Qing understood his meaning.

Many who survived the apocalypse had blood on their hands; how could they care whether they became vassals to aliens, if it meant staying alive?

"The Yan family, the Yuan family, the Locks family," Lin Qing asked. "Are these the three watching the Patrol Headquarters?"

Xu Shaofeng gave a slight nod. "I'll apply for you to enter the First Forbidden Zone's Divine Office Trial. By procedure, it must go through ZhiXing Group—these three families will naturally get the news immediately."

"My displayed strength doesn't even give me a good chance at a regular Divine Office—why would they care?" Lin Qing frowned slightly.

His displayed strength, while decent among Level-Three Elite Patrols, gave him only a 30–40% chance of passing a regular Divine Office Trial; failure was far more likely.

For this reason, Xu Shaofeng and Tang Wanqiu had deliberately concealed much of his true power, pretending he was just waiting in line at Patrol Headquarters for a random draw—just enough to not miss the chance.

—This was actually the normal state for elite Patrols.

At the Gene Recombination level, if you were lucky enough to unlock one Level-Four gene ability, several Level-Three gene abilities, and mastered one very ordinary Primitive-Level combat technique, you'd be considered top-tier among Level-Three Elite Patrols.

Under such conditions, you'd have a 30–40% chance of passing a regular Divine Office Trial.

If you were lucky enough to encounter a Divine Office perfectly suited to you, your chances would be even higher.

Lin Qing was currently pretending to be just such a normal elite Patrol within the talented range.

In the past, ZhiXing Group would send invitations, but they were purely symbolic—barely even cared.

Even if you succeeded, you'd only become a basic, ordinary Divine Office holder, let alone with only a 30–40% chance.

You simply weren't worth their attention.

But now, the Twenty-Four Families were watching elite Patrols at this level?

"Each time the Second Cosmic Net's Earth Treasure opens, the knowledge and legacies accessible increase."

Xu Shaofeng explained: "It may not be precious to ZhiXing Group, but to the Twenty-Four Families, it's extremely valuable—top-tier Primitive-Level combat techniques, even priceless Star-Level combat techniques, secret knowledge about Divine Offices, combinations of Sacred Scripts, exclusive Divine Artifacts, Divine Techniques, and more—all of these the Twenty-Four Families crave."

"Sacred Scripts?" Lin Qing had heard the term before but never truly understood it.

"They're special symbolic characters that enhance Divine Offices," Xu Shaofeng said. "The most valuable are the combinations of these symbols."

Lin Qing still didn't fully understand.

But once he obtained a Divine Office, he would naturally understand.

"In short, be careful."

Xu Shaofeng said: "Absolutely do not reveal your core ability."

"I understand," Lin Qing nodded.

……

……

That same afternoon, the application was submitted.

While Lin Qing was still waiting at Headquarters for results, he received three invitations.

The three invitations came from the Yan family, the Yuan family, and the Locks family—each nearly identical, all inviting him to meet for a conversation.

"The Twenty-Four Families aren't united," Lin Qing realized there was more to this.

He'd heard that the Yan family, as one of the Top Three, had many families following its lead; the Yuan family was led by the Gongsun family; the Locks family supported the Rodris family.

These three invitations clearly showed competition—no courtesy, no hesitation.

That same night, shortly after receiving the invitations, two Patrol Envoys arrived at his door in person.

You could call it delivering a message—or acting as a lobbyist.

Both were from the Fuyong Sect; it was natural they'd flatter the Twenty-Four Families—one came for the Yuan family, the other for the Locks family.

These two Patrol Envoys, representing the two major families, offered benefits Lin Qing didn't care about at all—no real gifts, nothing substantial, just empty words that made him want to laugh.

What surprised him, however, was that he'd assumed the Yan family's representative would be some Fuyong Sect Patrol Envoy.

But he never expected it to be another Senior Director—'Poruket'?

"Senior Director Poruket?"

Lin Qing stared at the elegant middle-aged man before him, dressed in a white suit, refined like a noble gentleman, and couldn't help but be startled.

According to what he knew, Poruket was clearly a Senior Director of the United Faction!

Last year, the three Senior Directors of the Patrol Headquarters were one each from the Fuyong Sect, the United Faction, and the Autonomy Faction—perfectly balanced.

When the prisoners from the Broken Stele Prison attacked the Patrol Headquarters last year, one Fuyong Sect Senior Director died.

Unexpectedly, Minister Bolukote has unknowingly become part of the Fuyong Sect?

"Lin Qing, I have high hopes for you."

Bolukote sat on the sofa opposite Lin Qing, his posture observing strict etiquette and bearing, looking very much like an ancient noble.

"You won't turn twenty until the end of this month, right?"

He smiled and said, "No need to rush to attempt the Divine Office Trial. First, look at this contract; it was personally drafted for you by Yan Ruling, the head of the Yan family and an old friend of mine."

Lin Qing glanced at the contract on the table but did not move, instead saying, "Does Minister Bolukote not know who I am with?"

Bolukote chuckled and said, "Tang Wanqiu? I know you are the talent favored by the Autonomy Faction, but so what? The factional divisions outside the Metropolitan Circle are merely trivial squabbles; within the Metropolitan Circle, the Wisdom Star Group is the greatest."

He looked up again at the endless night sky outside the window, saying, "Beyond Earth, the Yuanchen Civilization is countless times more powerful than our Earth Civilization. Does the so-called autonomy not seem naive and ridiculous to you?"

"It is indeed naive, but not ridiculous," Lin Qing said casually.

"You don't seem like such a naive person," Bolukote smiled. "Let's discuss the contract. If you don't want to look, that's fine; I can tell you directly."

Looking at Lin Qing, he said, "If you go to the First Restricted Zone to attempt the Divine Office Trial now, what are your odds? Twenty percent? Thirty percent? Or forty percent?"

Lin Qing said nothing.

"As long as you sign this contract."

Bolukote stared at Lin Qing, saying, "With the Yan family's resource allocation and intelligence, I dare guarantee you have at least a sixty percent chance of passing the Divine Office Trial!"

He spoke slowly, "May 20, 2126, is the moment Earth officially connects to the starry sky. Only three and a half years remain. If you fail this Divine Office Trial, the next trial will only be more difficult. Once you fail to obtain the status of a Cosmic Citizen, do you know what will happen?"

Lin Qing looked at him.

"By then, Earth, this special life-bearing planet, will appear to the various civilizations of the universe like an unguarded treasury."

Bolukote said in a deep voice, "By then, the power of Earth Civilization will not be enough to protect you. Ordinary people will be lambs awaiting slaughter, like livestock. Born on a high-level planet like Earth, you not only have excellent talent but are also the most standard 'Initial Human'."

Speaking of this, he smiled with a hint of mockery, "You might not yet know what an Initial Human is?"

"I indeed do not know," Lin Qing said, looking at him.

Bolukote said softly, "The Human Race of the Universe is a vast group, and the Initial Humans are the earliest appearing human race. Their emotions, souls, and genes are the most basic human elements. Although not as powerful as those human races in the starry sky, they possess the highest adaptability."

He sighed, "This is not a good thing. In the eyes of many cosmic civilizations, Initial Humans are the best experimental consumables, so they can also fetch a good price from slave merchants."

Experimental consumables?

Lin Qing frowned slightly.

"The first time I learned how powerful those civilizations in the universe are, I did not feel discouraged."

Bolukote said, "The second time, the third time, the fourth time... I never felt discouraged, because I felt Earth Civilization might still have a chance to rise. But when I discovered that most weak civilizations like Earth in the universe end up in destruction or are sold as commodities, I truly wavered."

Looking at Lin Qing, he said, "Can you imagine? Those Initial Humans who look exactly like us are cut down like leeks, crop after crop, no different from selling vegetables."

"Qi Lingxiao cannot save Earth, and Chu Hongjun cannot save Earth either. Even if they can save some people, how many can they save?"

Bolukote asked, "Do you think there is any solution other than becoming a vassal of a powerful civilization?"

Lin Qing said nothing.

"I rarely say so much."

Bolukote shook his head slightly, sighed, and then pushed the contract on the table forward, saying, "Take a look. By your standard, you originally had no qualification to become an internal member of the Wisdom Star Group, but as long as you first attach yourself to the Yan family, there may be a chance to enter the Wisdom Star Group in the future."

Lin Qing glanced at it and said, "The Yuan family and the Locks family have also invited me."

"No need to worry about them."

Bolukote said calmly, "Compared to the Yan family, the Yuan family and the Locks family are nothing. Young Lady Yan Qingqing of the Yan family is one of the top figures in strength among the three families."

"Oh?" Lin Qing remained expressionless.

"Sign the contract."

Looking at Lin Qing, Bolukote said, "Believe me, this is the greatest opportunity of your life."

Lin Qing knew.

Once the contract is signed and genes and other aspects are verified, the Yan family will upload this contract to the Second Universe Network.

If he succeeds in his employment, the contract will take effect for Cosmic Citizens. If he fails, the contract is useless anyway, and the Yan family does not need it.

"Forget the contract for now. I will consider it after I come out of the Restricted Zone based on the situation of the Divine Office Trial."

Lin Qing did not want to make a scene; delaying one more day before going to the Restricted Zone would be fine.

"Consider it after coming out of the Restricted Zone?" Bolukote shook his head slowly, saying, "It is not yet time for you to attempt the trial; you will fail."

He narrowed his eyes slightly, gazing at Lin Qing, and said in a low voice, "Sign it. Do not make me repeat myself a second time."

Lin Qing fell silent for a moment and asked, "Minister Bolukote, are you forcing me to sign this contract? If I don't sign, do you intend to kill me?"

Bolukote's eyes suddenly turned cold, and he stared at Lin Qing without saying a word.

【Current Order Level decreased by 6.1 levels】

Lin Qing looked at him with a blank expression.

At this moment, the pressure and momentum belonging to primordial beings oppressed him wantonly; even the floating energy around him fluctuated subtly, as if a domain could form at any moment.

!.

The atmosphere in the living room seemed to have completely fallen into an ice-bound dead silence, permeated with a grimness like severe cold!

Suddenly—

"Just a small joke. Don't be nervous."

Bolukote suddenly laughed, and the atmosphere returned to normal as if ice melted and snow thawed.

"The report said your will is astonishing; indeed, it is not wrong."

He stood up, murmuring in praise, "This is the Patrol Headquarters. You and I are Earth compatriots; how could I possibly kill you?"

While speaking, a faint glimmer suddenly bloomed in Bolukote's eyes.

Before Lin Qing could speak, he felt his body suddenly become a few degrees heavier, with a sensation of stiffness and numbness.

"Minister Bolukote, what do you mean by this?" Lin Qing said coldly.

"It's just a parting gift."

Bolukote smiled and said, "In your current state, your movement speed will be much slower than before for these few days. Under such circumstances, do not attempt the Divine Duty Trial; you are destined to fail. Give up for now."

He sighed, "I am doing this for your own good. I hope you can understand."

Lin Qing understood the other party's meaning.

Although Bolukote dared not kill him at the Patrol Headquarters, he still dared to deliberately sabotage his actions and delay his Divine Duty Trial.

Normally, Divine Duty Trials require applying by lottery; missing one means waiting a long time.

Now, Bolukote was threatening him with this method—

If you don't sign the contract, don't even think about succeeding in the Divine Duty Trial.

"Lin Qing, you should feel honored.

Bolukote mocked, "Often, only true geniuses are worth the Smart Star Group forcing a contract on. You are now enjoying such treatment, aren't you?"

He said no more, walked out of the living room door, and left a sentence without looking back: "Take your time to consider it. Contact me once you have thought it through."

In the blink of an eye, Bolukote had already left the living room.

"Chen Guang." Lin Qing transmitted by thought, "Did he record and transmit our conversation just now to the Yan family?"

"No." Chen Guang's voice sounded, "He would naturally keep such matters confidential; why would he increase the risk of a leak?"

Lin Qing pondered for a moment and said, "The ability he used on me is a Divine Duty ability, right?"

"Yes."

Chen Guang said, "Master, you have likely been afflicted by an ability that increases negative status effects, causing your body to become stiff and sluggish. It can be resolved by forcibly clearing it through Domain expansion, or by the user's death."

"Is that so? Such a simple method?" A thought crossed Lin Qing's mind.

His consciousness had already begun controlling the Black Flame clone tens of thousands of kilometers away, starting to burn itself to commit suicide.

Afterwards, he activated the Eternal Gate in his mind—

Accompanied by the disappearance of half his energy, a wisp of flowing light flew from between Lin Qing's eyebrows, revealing itself as a point of light.

The point of light flew out the window, rapidly expanded in mid-air, and transformed into a naked youth in the night sky.

In the next moment, deep green scales appeared all over the youth's body, a single horn grew on his forehead, his size expanded to three or four meters high, meaty wings sprouted from his back, and black flames began to burn.

In an instant, the Black Flame had crossed tens of thousands of kilometers and appeared before his eyes!

"Master, do you want Yan to act?"

Chen Guang had known of Yan's existence for these past few months, but as an intelligent life form, she was absolutely loyal and clearly did not mind.

"Bolukote is a Primordial Being, and he also possesses a soul with a Divine Duty foundation."

Lin Qing immediately said softly, "How could I possibly let such a grand meal go easily?"

The Black Flame's Divine Duty is the Life-System Star Demon; to evolve, it must break rules, commit great slaughter, or sacrifice the soul of a Primordial Being with a Divine Duty foundation.

He pondered for a moment and said, "However, acting at the Headquarters is indeed not a good idea."

In the sky, a black fighter jet flew toward the distant void at nearly ten times the speed of sound.

Inside the jet, Bolukote adjusted his spotless white suit and leaned back comfortably on the sofa seat.

A hot-bodied female elite patrol officer brought a glass of red wine and asked curiously, "Minister, did the plan succeed?"

"Of course."

Bolukote smiled, pulled her into his arms, and asked, "Are the communicators all turned off?"

"As per your request, they are all off." The female elite patrol officer nodded obediently.

"That's good. If the Headquarters can't find me, he will only miss this Divine Duty Trial."

Bolukote said casually, "Such a small mistake, and it only affects one elite patrol officer; there won't be any punishment."

"Why didn't you threaten him to force him to sign the contract? Under the threat of death, he would definitely agree." The female elite patrol officer said.

"Then I wouldn't be able to stay at the Patrol Headquarters either."

Bolukote laughed helplessly, "A mere Lin Qing is not worth me giving up my position as Minister..."

Suddenly—

"Boom!!"

Amidst the terrifying explosion sound, the second-grade alloy fighter jet seemed to have collided with something; half the jet crumbled like rotten wood and disintegrated directly in mid-air!

Furthermore, a terrifying, hazy Domain spread out, instantly freezing the disintegrating jet in mid-air, not even a single sound propagating out.

"Who!"

Amidst Bolukote's shocked and furious roar, there was also a trace of panic that could not be concealed.

This Domain was simply too strong. For a Domain of a fellow Primordial Being, the opponent had obviously reached the limit of the Fifth Energy Level, making it impossible for him to use his own Domain, and his speed dropped drastically!

In the next moment, he saw a deep green demon covered in burning black flames flying toward him within the Domain at a terrifying speed.

That already massive fist was now enlarging at an astonishing speed in Bolukote's eyes, instantly filling the world before his eyes!

"Bang!"

As a heavy punch like a collapsing mountain fell, Bolukote's head instantly exploded and shattered; merely the shockwave emitted caused the female elite patrol officer beside him to die on the spot.

The two people inside the entire jet died instantly.

Lin Qing used his Domain to suspend the shattered jet and the corpses in mid-air, confirming Bolukote's death.

"Bolukote's strength was indeed average..."

Seeing this scene, Lin Qing was not at all surprised.

Before transforming into a Primordial, under the condition of Black Flame burning at full power, his strength was already slightly stronger than the level of a Minister.

And now that Black Flame is a Primordial Being and also a Star Demon series profession, killing Bolukote in one punch is nothing strange.

Suddenly—

Lin Qing suddenly felt a vast and mighty wave sweep over this black-flame body.

He immediately understood; this was the legendary Yu Xingyuan Favor!

As a Life-class Demon, as long as he committed acts of slaughter, he would naturally receive the Yu Xingyuan Favor's gift, especially at higher levels.

At this moment, having slain a primordial creature with a foundation in divine duty and sacrificed it along with its soul, the gift from the Yu Xingyuan Favor was beyond imagination.

It was just that this gift had not yet accumulated enough for him to evolve.

"I wonder how many I need to kill..."

Lin Qing did not know exactly how many he needed to slay to receive the Yu Xingyuan Favor's reward and evolve once more.

But as long as he fulfilled the duties of his divine office, success would come one day.

He glanced at the shattered warplane and corpse hovering in midair, then immediately withdrew his domain, letting them fall from the high sky.

"Director Borukot, farewell."

"What? Director Borukot is dead?"

Lin Qing looked at Xu Shaofeng in shock and asked, "How is that possible? Outside the Urban Circle, someone actually managed to kill the Senior Director?"

"I don't know who did it," Xu Shaofeng said, frowning. "But Director Borukot was killed with a single move; the enemy seems ridiculously strong?"

Lin Qing also hadn't expected the effect to be so good.

Borukot's corpse was discovered not long after, but since his warplane and body were too far from headquarters, it perfectly proved his innocence.

As for the murderer, no one could tell who had done it.

So, Lin Qing remained on the headquarters island without concern, waiting for the divine office quota to arrive so he could head to the First Forbidden Zone and attempt the divine office trial!

(End of this chapter)