Chapter 166

City Circle, Inner Zone B, Asia Street No. 16.

Fu Family Mansion.

Beneath the silent night sky, beneath crimson-purple neon lights, over a dozen young men and women in uniform attire followed a man resembling a steward along the gravel path into the mansion.

Under the holographic projection, the mansion was entirely antique in style; a young man in a loose robe lounged lazily on a sofa, beside him curled a massive tiger with golden eyes and a white forehead, nestled like a cat.

"Young Master."

The steward bowed respectfully: "The batch of students you selected from Star Union University have arrived; their appearance and height meet your requirements."

Behind him, the dozen young men and women stood silently in a line.

The robe-clad youth lazily lifted his head, scanning each young man and woman before giving a slight, satisfied nod: "Good. Those with scholarly grace and striking looks are hard to find—quality is decent. Keep them all."

Senior executives of Star Intelligence Group each released their mental force to probe the scene.

"Yan Tianquan's death can explain the motive—but what about Fu Weihé?"

Now that the Black Flame Avatar has inscribed the Sacred Glyph 'Source of Life,' its vitality can sustain full-power combustion for about three minutes.

The Black Flame Avatar immediately triggered the illusory crystal in his mind with his consciousness.

"Confirm the plan quickly—test those three. I'll arrange for Star Pirates to infiltrate Earth."

Patrol Star Council Headquarters.

……

He casually pointed at two, "This one, and this one—send them to my room tonight."

Chu Hongjun said calmly: "I am the Director of Dawn Research Institute, not the Chairman of Dawn Group—I always intended to sever ties with Dawn Group."

"No one is watching."

The father of this Fu family heir is none other than the head of the Fu Clan—one of the Twenty-Four Families! The founders of the Twenty-Four Families were twenty-four Earthlings who followed Star Intelligence Group before the City Circle was established, surviving from the End Times to this day.

One week later.

Either quantity, or quality.

And not his own.

Lin Qing silently sighed.

"Not nearly enough…" the robe-clad youth mused: "No wonder Star Intelligence Group values the Yan Clan so much…"

Lin Qing recalled the illusory experience just now, while the Black Flame Avatar burned furiously, maximizing his comprehension.

"Yu Xingyuan Level Five?" The robe-clad youth had heard of the Yu Xingyuan Trials in the Transmission Tower. "How many levels did Father reach?"

Chu Hongjun glanced at him and said: "I am merely the planner—I did not act myself. You did. That does not violate the agreement. The process was simple."

"Either sacrifice dozens of ordinary primal beings to have my authority reduced—or let me leverage Dawn Group's power for the sake of those dozens of ordinary primal beings."

……

After the young men and women, like merchandise, were taken away, the robe-clad youth said: "Father will be emerging from seclusion soon, right? What gift do you think would be appropriate?"

Then, a seven-colored radiance mixed with crimson descended from the heavens, pouring directly into the vessel's blood.

"But… isn't this too brazen?" Lin Qing asked in confusion.

Inside the private room, Lin Qing sat cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, a faint smile on his lips.

Lin Qing released his Pseudo-Divine Domain, confirmed no one was watching, then immersed his consciousness in the Eternal Gate within his mind.

According to his estimate, as long as the Black Flame Avatar was fully prepared in all aspects, passing Yu Xingyuan Level Four would be effortless.

The robe-clad youth's expression changed.

The next day.

"Motive? To those three, the Twenty-Four Families are dogs of Star Intelligence Group—there's nothing they can't kill."

Following Chu Hongjun's instructions, Lin Qing pretended to steal research results from Lab No. 3; the entire Lab No. 3 zone immediately entered a signal-sealed lockdown.

Lin Qing couldn't help asking: "Is it really that simple?"

As long as he wished, he could experience at any moment the evolution process most suited to him, transforming via sixth-tier energy into a sixth-tier lifeform—a High-Level Primal Being.

Compared to other primal beings with basic divine offices, his advantages are rare divine office, Sacred Glyphs, and the Pseudo-Divine Domain.

An invisible light domain suddenly spread, completely enveloping the area; the terrifying pressure instantly froze everything solid.

The Black Flame Avatar could clearly sense the illusory crystal in his mind.

The illusion suspended by air currents was unmistakably a headless corpse! "Lord?"

How could this be?

Of course, it was also because the Black Flame Avatar was strong enough—otherwise, killing two beings one level higher would be far too difficult.

"Next, it's my turn."

"Level Three," the steward shook his head. "Father acquired too few Sacred Glyphs. Otherwise, he might have passed Level Four—and certainly would have passed the Primal-Level Divine Office trial."

Lin Qing couldn't help feeling eager.

So many sets of Sacred Glyphs—even with Starlight Origin Stones—there wasn't enough time to inscribe them all, but divine office abilities and others could still be prepared.

The robe-clad youth nodded slightly and said: "Handle it well. Leave no traces. Given Father's status, as long as it follows protocol, there's no problem—we mustn't cause Father trouble."

"No matter. There must be a price."

Lin Qing's Black Flame Avatar immediately began familiarizing himself with the corresponding sixth-tier energy.

After a while, the illusory transformation ended.

In a daze, the Black Flame Avatar saw again the ancient massive altar, and on it the strange transparent vessel, filled with seven-colored radiance streaked with crimson, occupying more than half its capacity.

One level higher means a vast gap.

"What's going on?"

Lin Qing arrived early outside Dawn Group's Lab No. 3. As planned, Chu Hongjun's invitation under Dawn Group's name had indeed secured over eighty volunteers.

"Last time it was Yan Tianquan, now it's Fu Weihé—why kill these two?"

Moreover, the key lies in his ability to sense high-energy-level forces; otherwise, relying solely on divine office experiences to evolve, he might need to experience it countless times before truly succeeding.

The manager frowned slightly, extended a hand, and instantly a gray current blocked that phantom.

"Fu Weihé's head was shattered by pure brute force; his fourth-rank Starry Sky Battle Suit also bears signs of being torn."

"Is that enough?"

"Rarely," Chu Hongjun said. "Most are barely at Yu Xingyuan Level Two."

The Black Flame Avatar, fulfilling its divine office duties, must kill and offer souls; if the target is a high-level primal lifeform, even one basic divine office is sufficient.

The crimson multicolored radiance within the vessel also rose, filling the transparent container in the blink of an eye.

Simultaneously, the massive fortress in the sky emitted countless barely perceptible beams, repeatedly scanning this area.

Lin Qing, to prevent accidents, deliberately kept the Black Flame Avatar hidden outside, avoiding being caught all at once.

…

Lin Qing paused, then asked: "But what if ZhiXing Group knows this is a trap and refuses to take the bait?"

The manager bowed respectfully and added: "Also, two individuals resisted too fiercely and have been eliminated; the Immigration Administration has been notified—they will be expelled from the Urban Circle before their disappearance is officially reported."

"It's quite simple…"

Of the thousands of sixth-energy-level forces, he wasn't sure which was most useful, but the divine office evolution had shown him the correct path.

Immediately, his expression changed.

"Perhaps those three did it on purpose? Don't you know Chu Hongjun's cunning?"

Lin Qing couldn't help saying: "I thought you planned to set up two targets like Yantianquan or Fu Weihé—turns out it's dozens at the same level?"

"Young master, watch your words!"

At that moment, a tremendous explosion erupted, a deafening roar rising into the sky, then blocked by the area's sound-dampening system. Though it was only one experience, as long as one could sense various sixth-energy-level forces and possessed sufficient insight, even a single experience might be enough to trigger a life transformation.

"Is there anything wrong with this plan?"

"It's the same situation as last time…"

The white-haired, three-eyed man frowned at the headless corpse, and the corpse immediately floated before him.

"If it were Yi Leina Duo, with her telekinetic control—formless and fluid—she could also fake this level of disguise."

Inside the Second Universe Net's subsidiary space "Conference Room," Chu Hongjun glanced at Lin Qing. "I've created the opportunity for you. Whether you succeed depends on you."

The white-haired, three-eyed man said coldly: "According to simulation and analysis of the scene, the killer either used formless telekinetic infiltration or possessed exceptional stealth and infiltration abilities—launching a sudden strike. The first blow tore through Fu Weihé's ability defenses and Starry Sky Battle Suit; the second shattered his skull."

"... That's the plan."

"Dead?"

The manager stared in disbelief at the corpse—its clothing and ornaments clearly marked it as the patriarch of the Fu family. "Father?" The robe-clad youth was stunned.

…

As long as the Black Flame Avatar still exists, even if this original body dies, he can still be resurrected.

Meanwhile—

Under the terrifying pressure and domain suppression, the robe-clad youth and the manager were like two insects frozen in amber, utterly motionless.

"Tomorrow, come to Laboratory No. 3 of Dawn Group."

"Aren't the area isolation systems already activated? How did the killer escape?"

"Do any of these dozens have Sacred Glyphs?" Lin Qing asked.

The manager said: "The patriarch is already preparing for a primal-level divine office trial; in the future, perhaps…"

That's why this original body could pass through Yu Xingyuan Level Three.

Then, he entered the vast, empty Laboratory No. 3.

"Young master, the patriarch doesn't need any gifts."

The next instant, an invisible, illusory force spread over his entire body, beginning to manifest the illusory process of life transformation. With the divine office's aid, it seemed a certain life-system sixth-energy-level force, in a peculiar and wondrous way, continuously elevated his life tier.

Senior ZhiXing Group officials communicated via telepathic whispers.

At that moment—

"The Commander of Troops is the same—he must rely on the divine office to find the most suitable evolution method…"

"That shouldn't be difficult," Lin Qing nodded.

Perfect—this period, let the Black Flame Avatar level up first.

"Even if ZhiXing Group knows I did it on purpose, so what?" Chu Hongjun countered. "Aren't ZhiXing people already suspecting that the three of us secretly helped you?"

"No, this is an open strategy."

"Boom!"

Lin Qing thought silently: "It all depends on Chu Hongjun's plan…"

"But… wouldn't weakening Chancellor Chu's authority be too much of a loss?" Lin Qing couldn't help asking.

"Your Excellency, have you found anything?"

"Boom!!"

He glanced at Lin Qing. "Based on my understanding of ZhiXing Group, they will inevitably choose the former. To them, what are the lives of dozens of primal lifeforms?"

"The current Black Flame Avatar should easily pass Yu Xingyuan Level Three—even rank among the top. Once fully upgraded to sixth-energy-level…"

Lin Qing nodded silently. "The divine office truly can drive life transformation…"

A vast, invisible will descended violently, sweeping over the Black Flame Avatar.

After burning through dozens of lives, the Black Flame Avatar finally understood the precise method for achieving sixth-energy-level life transformation.

"Rare divine offices…" the robe-clad youth shook his head. "How easy is that? Even if it were rare, I couldn't compete with my elder brother—why waste energy? I just need to please Father. With his backing, in two years I can pick any ordinary divine office, become a Cosmic Citizen, and in three years, immigrate to Yuan Chen Civilization."

He was a primal lifeform; to evolve using the Commander of Troops' power, he must kill dozens of other primal lifeforms who also possess divine office foundations, seizing their life essences. If he killed lifeforms one level higher, perhaps only two would suffice.

The Fu family patriarch, as the strongest member and pillar of the Fu family, was a top-tier figure even within the Urban Circle! How could these powerless little people possibly dare to provoke him? "Send them all away," the robe-clad youth waved his hand.

"Hah!"

A point of light flew out from his brow, rapidly expanded, and transformed into a Black Flame Clone.

The mansion's walls suddenly collapsed and shattered; a phantom, like a cannonball, smashed through the walls and flew out from the depths of the mansion.

Young men and women lowered their heads, listening as this young master of the Fu family spoke so recklessly about these dark methods to their faces.

At that moment, more streams of light fell into the courtyard.

Each stream of light was clearly a Star-Wise Person with a third eye on their brow, and all radiated incomprehensibly terrifying pressure! "Fu Weihe was indeed killed."

Chu Hongjun said in a calm voice, "My doing this will inevitably dissatisfy the investors of the Dawn Group and reduce my authority. The Star-Wise Group understands this as well, so essentially, there are two options before them—"

Once familiarized, the Black Flame Clone would probably be able to evolve into a Sixth-Level Life Form.

A little remaining multicolored radiance was then poured back into the vessel. The scene before vanished without a trace, as if it were an illusion.

The moment the vessel filled, that scarlet multicolored radiance transformed into a phantom crystal, pierced the void, followed an invisible trajectory, and instantly sank into the Black Flame Clone's mind.

The steward said, "If you, young master, can assume a rare divine office, no matter what you send, the family head will surely be satisfied."

By then, with the most suitable Sixth-Level energy, the divine office ability and the Holy Letters would all be elevated to the Sixth Level.

Chu Hongjun glanced at Lin Qing.

These people were either from the Star-Wise Group or from the Twenty-Four Families; most of them did not know the danger of this trip, had not considered its deeper meaning, and entered the laboratory directly.

That was why he chose Fu Weihe, the weakest among the Twenty-Four Families, where the chance of a successful assassination was greatest.

But that terrifying explosion still echoed throughout this area.

A white-haired man with three eyes and a cold expression appeared in the courtyard at terrifying speed, then swept his gaze around.

Chu Hongjun looked at him. "I will invite the Star-Wise People and the Primordial Beings of the Twenty-Four Families in the name of the Dawn Group to visit Laboratory No. 3. When the time comes, you will proceed according to the plan; the doors of Laboratory No. 3 will seal and close automatically. You will simply catch the fish in the jar."

He sighed, "Pity that the quota on the Star-Wise Group's side still depends on the Yan family. I wonder when father will be like that Yan Qingqing."

Even against several dozen people, he was confident he could slaughter them all—provided those several dozen did not have time to escape.

"Two strikes? Fu Weihe, at the level of the third layer of the Yu Xingyuan, is merely passable. With only two sets of Holy Letters and no proficiency in defense, the killer used two moves to kill him; it seems he wasn't that strong either."

But what could they do?

"Let's try."

The steward frowned. "Although the family head is powerful, the Yan family has at least three who are stronger than the family head, especially Yan Qingqing. He is a councilor of the Star-Patrol Council, a Primordial Divine Office Holder, and it is rumored he has already passed the fifth layer of the Yu Xingyuan!"

But he never expected... the plan Chu Hongjun arranged for him was actually about numbers? "Are you confident you can deal with several dozen of the same level?"

"So this kind of energy is the most suitable for the Black Flame Clone's evolution..."

This plan was too simple! Directly invite the target to the laboratory, then seal and close the doors, catching the fish in the jar? Such a direct and simple plan made Lin Qing almost unable to believe it.

Of course, this was merely the method most suitable for the Black Flame Clone's evolution.

"Yes."

"Fu Weihe, truly the weakest family head among the Twenty-Four Families. After so many years, that is all the progress he has made..."

Lin Qing did not hesitate.

Chu Hongjun, as if he had not seen anything, stood with his back to the doors of Laboratory No. 3, gazing at the sky outside the window, waiting quietly.

Thirty seconds later.

Lin Qing walked out of Laboratory No. 3 unscathed, saw that Chu Hongjun's back was still there, and immediately said, "Dean Chu, they are all dead."

Chu Hongjun turned his head slightly and asked, "Is it enough?"

(End of this chapter)