Chapter 172: The True Crisis of Earth

"Divine Technique?"

Facing the rolling star hurtling toward her, Councilor Yan Qingqing immediately realized this.

Without even a Primordial Divine Office, she could unleash such astonishing power, with defense so strong that her previous attack couldn't shake it at all? Besides a Divine Technique, she could think of almost no other possibility! "No choice now..."

Councilor Yan Qingqing took a deep breath; suddenly, a slight movement occurred at her brow, splitting open a crack.

【Current Order Level decreased by 10.4 levels】

Inside the light sphere of the Rotating Star Divine Technique, after the notification of the Order Level decrease appeared before Lin Qing's eyes, his Domain also detected the change in Councilor Yan Qingqing.

He couldn't help but feel somewhat surprised.

The Three-Eyed Clan was nearly the exclusive domain of the Wisdom Star People, almost impossible for outsiders to touch! And as vassal forces of the Wisdom Star Group, the twenty-four families meant that, in plain terms, Councilor Yan Qingqing was merely a dog raised by the Wisdom Star People.

The star pirate, appearing as a thin, small man, seemed to laugh in anger upon hearing this: "You really think we're fools?"

"The Star Patroler, Councilor Yan Qingqing, sent me a telepathic message. She said the Divine Technique won't last long and hopes we cooperate with her to prevent Lin Qing from escaping. She only needs Lin Qing dead; afterward, there will be a heavy reward."

"It absolutely cannot be a product of a Level One Civilization..."

"Enough talk; the situation isn't safe. You return to the Star Patrol Council first," Chairman Yan said.

The telepathic message took only an instant.

"Starting the act again..."

If there was anyone on the entire Earth he understood least and feared most, it was undoubtedly Did Chu Hongjun.

"A big trouble."

"Defense this strong?"

But under his telepathic scan, he found nothing.

Lin Qing pondered for a moment and said, "If it were anything below a Star Spirit, I wouldn't fear it, unless a Primordial Divine Office holder wielding a Divine Technique came."

"Can't let him escape..."

Even if the main body perished, he could resurrect through the Black Flame Clone.

Even a powerful Divine Technique has an upper limit to its strength, equivalent to elevating a certain aspect by two tiers.

"Hmm." Lin Qing nodded. "The Divine Technique has been mastered, but it is a defensive Divine Technique, not skilled in attack. Plus, Councilor Yan Qingqing hid quite deeply; she had two trump cards that were somewhat unexpected, so I still failed to kill her."

"And that chain-like treasure you mentioned."

Chairman Yan couldn't help but look at Lin Qing. "I have carefully investigated every member of your group. Those two Wisdom Star People were near the fourth layer of the Yu Xingyuan, and Councilor Yan Qingqing only passed the fifth layer of the Yu Xingyuan last year. Could you kill them? Have you already..."

Groke, the current behind-the-scenes ruler of the Rodris Family, one of the Three Great Families.

"Just luck," Lin Qing said, shaking his head.

—This is also the reason Star Spirits can possess bodies.

Chairman Yan sighed. "This isn't comforting words, but real luck. According to data on cosmic civilizations, luck is the universe's favoritism toward you; this point is also very important."

If this continued, she wouldn't exhaust Lin Qing; she would likely be exhausted by Lin Qing first! "Flee!"

Although one could log into the Second Universe Network, Primordial Spirits cannot split their consciousness. Once logging into the Star Transmission Tower or the Second Universe Network, one must log in with a complete consciousness; how could one dare to log in during a battle?

Relying on the help of this chain, it could actually block him?

A Level One Civilization's utilization of energy could almost never reach this degree!

She stared at the crazily rotating light sphere before her. Although she couldn't see Lin Qing inside the light sphere, she still pleaded via telepathic message: "Spare me! Lin Qing, I am also an Earthling. You must know, I never intended to be your enemy. It's just because you killed the Wisdom Star People that the nanomachines inside my body have recorded everything I saw. Although the signal is blocked and cannot be transmitted in real time to serve as evidence, the Wisdom Star People will certainly use it as reference. I couldn't sit idly by."

Councilor Yan Qingqing immediately released her telepathy, sending a message to the three nearby star pirates.

Lin Qing immediately controlled the Rotating Star Divine Technique to pursue relentlessly, continuing to crush forward.

Lin Qing sneered inwardly: "Just want to exhaust me? I want to see how long you can hold out."

"I want to see how many times you can block."

At this moment, the Rotating Star Divine Technique wielded by Lin Qing was like an unavoidable rolling ball, sticking close to Councilor Yan Qingqing's body, rolling and crushing her crazily.

The key is...

Lin Qing nodded.

Only Star Spirits can retain part of their consciousness in their physical bodies in reality while sending another part into the Second Universe Network.

He immediately confirmed this point.

However—

With her strength, she could activate this treasure for dozens of seconds.

How could the Wisdom Star People possibly let Councilor Yan Qingqing obtain the eyes of the Three-Eyed Clan?

So, he gave up after chasing not far. In the blink of an eye, Councilor Yan Qingqing turned into a stream of light and vanished at the horizon.

"Definitely not the sixth energy level."

Councilor Yan Qingqing couldn't help but be startled, feeling it was somewhat incredible.

At this moment, Lin Qing felt that before the Rotating Star Divine Technique truly made contact with Councilor Yan Qingqing, an invisible repulsive force came, slowing his collision momentum by more than half in an instant.

As a Star Spirit, his telepathic range covered thousands of kilometers.

Actually, she was confident she could escape, but being targeted by such a terrifying genius meant that once the opponent passed the Primordial Divine Office trial, she would be doomed.

"Two or three seconds; if prepared in advance, that is enough time to escape."

What surprised him was not Councilor Yan Qingqing's soul strength—humans who survived the apocalypse having this level of soul strength was not strange.

"For example... Councilor Yan Qingqing has someone behind her whom even the Wisdom Star Group dares not disrespect," Did Chu Hongjun said. "This can also explain the origin of Councilor Yan Qingqing's eyes."

Chairman Yan shook his head. "I have also cultivated Divine Techniques. Understanding the various essences of power is already difficult; to fuse different power essences into a whole, forming a Divine Technique just right... I have absolutely no clue."

"Want to flee?"

Lin Qing suddenly understood.

Chairman Yan glanced at him, said no more, and released a surging telepathy.

"Wait... this Lin Qing actually used telepathy to speak to me too. He's asking me to cooperate with him and not let Councilor Yan Qingqing escape?"

Star pirates of such power daring to infiltrate Earth must possess holy scripts similar to 'Hidden World' for concealment; even the telepathy of Star Beings generally cannot find them.

Before the Star Patrol Council could notify anyone, Lin Qing, guided by Yi Leina Duo's telepathic waves, had his consciousness enter the Twilight Paradise.

"Three star pirates attacked; the other two Aspirant Star Patrol members are dead, and Councilor Yan Qingqing has escaped." Lin Qing immediately transmitted via telepathy.

He couldn't help but say, "You should have been like Director Qi, hiding silently all along; you shouldn't have exposed yourself."

Sensing from the energy, this chain still utilizes sixth-level energy, yet possesses such astonishing defense.

"Do the Wisdom Star people value Councilor Yan Qingqing so highly?"

The star pirate in the guise of a thin, small man sent a telepathic message: "We provoked the wrong person; we are abandoning this mission."

Councilor Yan fell silent.

Without using Instant Light, Lin Qing isn't particularly skilled in speed, and when activating the Spiral Star Divine Art, the divine weapon maintaining the Spiral Star cannot Instant Light with him.

He was too lazy to say more, immediately controlling the Spiral Star to crash forward, but countless blood-red vines spread across the sky and earth, extending towards him; although they were all repelled by the Spiral Star Divine Art, they indeed hindered him.

Once he resurrects, the Wisdom Star people will also discover his resurrection ability.

Merely two or three seconds later.

And Councilor Yan Qingqing did not dodge, letting the treasure protect her body, simply lowering her head and charging madly outward, while not forgetting to telepathically message the three star pirates: "I cannot stay at the scene; he is about to collapse. I leave him to you."

With energy utilization this powerful, the bonuses from holy scripts can be ignored.

Although the Spiral Star Divine Art is not skilled in attack, his gene optimization index is four times higher than the average of the same tier! At the very least, defense touching the threshold of the Yu Xingyuan fifth layer is needed to block the Spiral Star's frontal collision! And Councilor Yan Qingqing, a Star-Slayer who only excels in attack, even with holy script enhancement, finds it difficult for her defense to reach the Yu Xingyuan fifth layer.

Even if he catches up, he cannot kill the opponent.

The three star pirates were currently watching this scene in shock from the side, communicating secretly via telepathy.

"Sudden enlightenment is indeed luck, but Director Qi and Dean Chu have both said that luck is also part of strength."

"Die."

Lin Qing immediately used the communicator to send a distress signal to Councilor Yan in the space above this region.

Councilor Yan frowned tightly. "How long have you been cultivating this Divine Art? Less than a year? Mastering a Divine Art in such a short time; you, such a terrifying genius, once the extraterrestrial civilizations learn of this, will definitely try to eliminate you in advance!"

"Another reason?" Lin Qing couldn't help but ask.

"However, you don't need to worry too much."

But the same situation played out again; the faint glow emitted by that cyan chain carried an invisible repulsive force, making it extremely difficult for him to approach.

Only the planet's rejection equipment makes searching relatively convenient.

Although such non-real-time transmission records of video and sound cannot be used as evidence—after all, with current technology, forgery is too easy—the Wisdom Star Group will definitely believe it.

At the rise of a thought, she immediately conceived the idea of giving up.

"What is going on?"

"At least seventh or eighth level." Chu Hongjun glanced at Yi Leina Duo beside him. "Among the Wisdom Star people, only a few can obtain a Three-Eyed Clan eye of this level, right?"

"Luck is the universe's favoritism?" Lin Qing was slightly stunned.

"Huff!"

Today, she must make Lin Qing die here no matter what!

"Come to the Twilight Paradise; Dean Chu wants to talk with you."

It was none other than Councilor Yan.

"Fortunately, that my lord had Grok send this treasure to me; otherwise, this would have been truly troublesome..."

Dark, sharp blades slashed down from the sky towards that crazily rotating star! Councilor Yan Qingqing watched this scene, her eyes full of expectation.

Chu Hongjun said, "I have seen it in the Secret Library of the Stars; it should be a sixth-tier 'Primal Force Chain' used for body protection. Attacks below the seventh tier can almost neutralize ninety percent. This is a creation surpassing a level-one civilization, likely from the Secret Library of the Stars." "Impossible." Chu Hongjun pushed the glasses on his nose and asked again, "What level of talent do you think Councilor Yan Qingqing's eye is?"

Although the energy required to activate this treasure is considerable, compared to the terrifying consumption of the Divine Art, it is already significant.

So...

If he calculates it, he has a complete opportunity to kill him!

Chu Hongjun looked at her and said, "First, the Three-Eyed Clan is so weak that it is almost impossible to escape the Wisdom Star people's control. Second... since Councilor Yan Qingqing is confident enough to escape and dares to expose the third eye, this indicates she is not worried about the Wisdom Star people knowing; naturally, it is something the Wisdom Star Group is willing to give her."

At the same time, the floating energy in the void around her surged and condensed, forming dozens of meters-long arc-shaped blades. Under the effect of that dark, heavy fluctuation, these huge blades seemed to collapse, suddenly condensing several times in size! "Swish swish swish!"

She was naturally acting.

The Three-Eyed Clan's eye is actually a low-spec version of the Primal Ability; besides sensing high-level energy, it also comes with an additional ability.

Inside the cabin of the Twilight Paradise.

"Captain, did I not see wrong... this Earthling Lin Qing is using a Divine Art?"

"Yes." Yi Leina Duo nodded. "With such talent, the Wisdom Star people would not give it to a Councilor Yan Qingqing."

However, he also knew he couldn't stop the opponent from escaping; feeling sorry for the vines he had cultivated, he immediately controlled a large number of scarlet vines to avoid the opponent and also avoid Lin Qing.

And the chains wrapped around Councilor Yan Qingqing emitted a faint glow, continuously neutralizing the impact force of the Spiral Star Divine Art.

Lin Qing remembered Yi Leina Duo had also told him this point.

The remaining small portion of power, after colliding with Councilor Yan Qingqing's body surface, did not injure her; instead, she used the force to retreat rapidly!

Councilor Yan Qingqing sneered in her heart.

Lin Qing knew Councilor Yan and those three were all planning this matter, so he did not hide it: "Taking advantage of the signal jamming, I killed those two Wisdom Star people and also wanted to kill Councilor Yan Qingqing, but she escaped."

A thought flashed through Lin Qing's mind: "So what? At most, it's just an ordinary sixth-level eye; she still has to die!"

Chu Hongjun slowly said, "His rise was too abrupt, defying common sense. Previously, I guessed there was a secret deal between the Wisdom Star Group and Grok; now it seems... perhaps there is another reason."

Although the consumption is not small, she can still hold on for a few dozen seconds.

What significance does adding a sixth-level ability have at this moment? Councilor Yan Qingqing's divine office, 'Star-Slayer', although a Primal-level divine office, is merely a conventional one; she is not skilled in defense, and in terms of defense, she is only slightly stronger than an average Yu Xingyuan fourth-layer; at this time, escaping is also difficult.

"... That is roughly how it is."

—For example, the Primordial Realm Primal Identity Test Card, for example, the Starry Sky Source Stone...

"Divine Art is powerful, but I want to see how long you can hold out."

Lin Qing said: "After she uses that eye, her attack power increases several-fold. If it's Sixth-Level power, the boost should be negligible."

"It seems to be Dean Chu Hongjun's plan..."

The force field earlier blocked signals in this area; no distress message could be sent.

Time passed second by second.

"But Grock is merely mediocre."

No wonder Qi Lingxiao passed through...

Councilor Yan Qingqing grew increasingly anxious, her mind struggling to believe it: "Isn't the consumption of Divine Art supposed to be enormous? How is he holding out so long? Even with external aids, I'm nearly at my limit..."

"It's definitely a Divine Art—the kind that fully unleashes Sixth-Level energy and divine authority!"

"I understand." Lin Qing nodded.

"A being worthy of respect from the Wisdom Star Group?" Lin Qing said. "If such a being exists, why would they be associated with underlings like Grock and Yan Qingqing?"

A streak of light, moving at an unimaginable speed, descended from outer space above and halted before him.

"Insane, insane—a genius among Earth natives actually mastering such a Divine Art?"

The rolling stars showed no sign of weakening, continuing to crush Yan Qingqing as if far from exhaustion.

"Hum..."

Councilor Yan sighed bitterly. "A genius capable of mastering Divine Art is rare even among first-tier civilizations. Though the Wisdom Star Group's Yuan Chen Civilization is powerful, even their top-tier experts might possess Divine Art—but such a genius is unlikely."

He paused, then said: "But to enter the Star Vault, one must pass through the fourth layer of the Yu Xingyuan within 380 days after Primordial Transformation. Yan Qingqing clearly doesn't meet this condition—her artifact must have come from someone else... Based on timing, perhaps Grock?"

Even the most basic Sixth-Level eye, the Wisdom Star Group would never grant such an opportunity to Yan Qingqing! Moreover, he had never heard she possessed a third eye before!

Such a trump card should be kept hidden if possible.

"Earth genius."

How long can a Divine Art last?

"Could it be..."

"Our captain, a being of such strength, seems to have mastered only a relatively simple Divine Art, doesn't he?"

Yan Qingqing actually transplanted a Third-Eye Clan's eye?

Councilor Yan shook his head slightly. "In any case, be careful. Mastering such a powerful Divine Art in such a short time... unimaginable. The Wisdom Star Group would never let a genius like you grow unchecked."

Lin Qing was far stronger than she had estimated!

What the hell? It blocked most of the Star Spin's impact? Lin Qing frowned and once again drove the Star Spin technique to crush forward.

Though the ability to transfer consciousness and revive does exist, it almost always has severe limitations.

"What?"

There's just no concrete evidence, so we can't use official rules to deal with him.

Lin Qing shook his head slightly. "Dean Chu Hongjun told me to expose myself deliberately."

So before acting, he had hidden his Black Flame clone, and several important items were also with the Black Flame clone.

"Mastering Divine Art is too difficult."

Compared to divine authority, I cannot create Starlight Origin Stones, nor attempt Divine Below Walking.

Lin Qing turned his head to look.

"Huh?"

Even a Divine Art shouldn't be this absurd, right?

He suddenly understood—the trial in Site Five, the 'Silver Labyrinth,' was probably meant to filter out those with good luck...

"The probability is low."

"Thank goodness..." Yan Qingqing exhaled inwardly in relief.

Of course.

"Dean Chu Hongjun?" Councilor Yan blinked in surprise.

"Divine Art does consume heavily—should we assist her?"

In front of Chu Hongjun, he had no secrets at all.

Though she didn't understand why Lin Qing wanted to kill her, she clearly felt his unmasked killing intent.

After returning to the headquarters of the Urban Circle Star Council, Lin Qing had barely stepped into his personal quarters when he received a telepathic message from Yi Leina Duo:

This was the worst outcome.

"Boom!"

Yan Qingqing stared at the rolling stars; her third eye suddenly erupted with a deep black wave.

He couldn't help but study Lin Qing. "You mastered it in such a short time? How did you accomplish this final step?"

"What do we do? Captain, still capture him?"

A series of refined, dark blades slashed violently against the spinning light sphere—shattering it instantly! Yet the sphere merely paused slightly, still spinning steadily toward her.

She didn't dodge at all—she simply stood still, letting Lin Qing strike her repeatedly.

She dared not appear too confident, or Lin Qing might just flee outright.

The wildly spinning stars, carrying immense power, charged straight at Yan Qingqing! The Star-Slicing Assassin had no domain ability; Yan Qingqing's Sixth-Level domain was completely crushed by Lin Qing. She seemed to realize she couldn't evade—so she didn't even try.

Suddenly, dark blades erupted across Yan Qingqing's entire body, making her appear like a living blade as she spun and shot outward at high speed! Crimson vines blocking her path were all sliced apart.

This artifact was obtained by Grock from the Star Vault; it can nullify up to ninety percent of attacks below the seventh layer of the Yu Xingyuan.

"How could that be?"

"Definitely." Lin Qing nodded. "She's probably recorded everything she saw using the nanomachines inside her body. When presented to the Wisdom Star Group's higher-ups, they'll confirm I've mastered a Divine Art."

Yi Leina Duo considered, then said: "Perhaps Yan Qingqing, like me, obtained it from a Third-Eye Clan member who escaped Wisdom Star control?"

Councilor Yan Qingqing suddenly had a thought: "Perhaps Lin Qing has already been to the Starfall Secret Vault? For a genius like him, the treasures the Starfall Secret Vault gave him must be even better; perhaps there is something there that allows him to use the Divine Technique for an extended period?"

Lin Qing's eyes were cold as he continued to manipulate the Whirling Star Divine Technique to crush forward.

Chairman Yan shook his head slightly, looked at Lin Qing, and transmitted a thought via mental power: "What is the true situation?"

"Boom, boom, boom!!"

Chairman Yan transmitted a thought via mental power: "Those star-born beings from extraterrestrial civilizations all fear Hall Master Qi and the other two. Each of them still dreams of obtaining Earth's treasures in the future. Who dares to personally intervene and test the waters? That would be risking death. They all grew up on Earth; they have little sense of belonging to their homelands far across the starry sky. Unless absolutely forced, they will not be willing to sacrifice themselves."

After recounting the events that occurred during the action, Lin Qing finally looked at Chu Hongjun and said: "Dean Chu, can a vassal of the Yan Qingqing type of Intelligent Star being also obtain the Eye of the Three-Eyed Clan?"

In an instant, Lin Qing noticed that a pale green chain, unknown when it had appeared, was wrapped around Yan Qingqing's body, emitting a faint, misty glow.

Signal jamming restored.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly frowned and transmitted a thought: "Not good! You didn't kill Yan Qingqing, so doesn't that mean she knows you have already mastered the Divine Technique?"

She was already skilled in attack and killing, rarely revealed her full strength, and with the Eye as her trump card, perhaps she could break through the opponent's defensive Divine Technique?

When the blood-red vines before them vanished, those three star pirates also disappeared without a trace.

"I'm not sure, but Grok and Yan Qingqing must have had some shared experience."

Chu Hongjun fell silent for a moment, then said: "However, I told you before... After I conducted research and analysis on the Pre-Civilization, I discovered that many things on Earth are not as we see them. The true crisis of Earth is not the Intelligent Star Group."

"What is it then?" Lin Qing could not help but ask.

Chu Hongjun did not answer him; he simply walked silently to the floor-to-ceiling window of the cabin and gazed wordlessly at the boundless deep space above the twilight.

(End of this chapter)