Chapter 176: Future Lord of Earth

Preparations started twenty years ago?

Lin Qing couldn't help but pause slightly.

Indeed, manufacturing bombs with such terrifying power is certainly not easy; over seven thousand of them must have been prepared long in advance.

"This is merely a means of self-defense."

Chu Hongjun slowly said, "When the main force of the extraterrestrial civilization arrives on Earth in two years, this threat will not stop them. If there is truly no chance, I will detonate the bombs."

Qi Lingxiao suddenly looked at him.

"You would really detonate them?" Yi Leina Duo couldn't help but ask.

"Of course."

Chu Hongjun glanced at her and said, "The treasures of Earth are limited, and Earth is far more special than the extraterrestrial civilization imagines. If it is exposed to the universe like this, that would be a great trouble."

He paused, "Or do you think it is better for Earthlings to be treated as slaves or experimental materials, arbitrarily sold by the extraterrestrial civilization?"

"After all, there are eight billion people..."

Yi Leina Duo sighed and added, "You are not the type to destroy yourself with an enemy out of emotion. What happens after Earth is destroyed?"

Chu Hongjun said, "During this period, the extraterrestrial civilization will find ways to revive Earth, reform it into a life-bearing planet, and attempt to reconnect the space of the previous civilization's ruins with Earth. This time will last at least a hundred years; this is also a breathing period."

He looked at Yi Leina Duo and said, "I have made preparations. At that time, you will be responsible for the Seed Plan."

Yi Leina fell silent for a moment, then sighed, "I am not good at fighting and cannot intervene, but I still hope Earth does not meet such an ending. Or rather... does such an ending truly justify the sacrifice of so many of our compatriots?"

The atmosphere instantly fell into silence.

"Humans always consider themselves the center of the universe."

Chu Hongjun said expressionlessly, "But the universe is so cold. Civilizations ultimately have only two endings: survival or extinction. If the death of an era can become fertilizer for the next era, that is already the best outcome."

He looked at the silent Qi Lingxiao beside him. "Qi Lingxiao, compared to seventy years ago, you have grown much. Do you now have the determination to bear this civilization?"

Qi Lingxiao helplessly scratched his head and sighed, "I don't want to be some leader either; I just want more people to survive. You just told me that I must first learn to give up. Back in the apocalypse, I thought I had already learned, but I never expected there would come a day when I would have to give up eight billion people..."

Chu Hongjun paused for a moment and said, "Can you see the future?"

"The future?" Qi Lingxiao asked in confusion.

"The future Earth civilization, if it can survive, might possess thousands of planets as territory."

Chu Hongjun slowly said, "The population counted in hundreds of trillions, with an average lifespan exceeding a thousand years. Primitive life forms emerge endlessly, and star-born life forms are constantly born. Territory continues to expand, even evolving toward the legendary Type II civilization..."

He looked at Qi Lingxiao. "Such a future versus the tragic future where Earthlings become slaves or commodities... everyone knows how to choose, right?"

Qi Lingxiao said helplessly, "I understand what you mean, but after all, these are eight billion people... No matter what kind of future, it has nothing to do with them. Are they willing to sacrifice themselves?"

"You are always like this."

Chu Hongjun shook his head slightly. "Your sense of responsibility is too strong, and you empathize with others too easily. If not for your extremely good luck, someone like you would have died long ago in the apocalypse."

"I know I am not a suitable leader." Qi Lingxiao spread his hands. "But the future you speak of might not be realized either. Not to mention a Type II civilization; that is still very far from us, isn't it?"

"I also understand that the most suitable leader for Earth civilization is not you, but..." Chu Hongjun did not continue, but turned his head to look at Lin Qing.

"What do you think?"

Chu Hongjun looked at Lin Qing. "Lin Qing, do you think such a future can be realized?"

Lin Qing thought seriously for a moment, then said seriously, "I think as long as we drag it out, it will definitely be realized. I am also prepared."

He was destined to crush all geniuses of a Type I civilization, and with the authority of the Tenth Level, letting Earth civilization grow to the peak of a Type I civilization was only a matter of time.

It was precisely because he did not understand Type II civilization that he was uncertain.

But there should still be hope.

The future Chu Hongjun spoke of was certainly judged based on this point.

"That is good."

Chu Hongjun nodded slightly and said, "Continue your cultivation. I have secured these two years for you; let us see how far you can go. At the very least, you must become a Primitive Divine Officer. If you can transform into a star yourself, that would be even better."

Lin Qing nodded and said, "In a few months, I will go to Ruin No. 1. It is best to achieve the Primitive Divine Officer rank before the Sky Archipelago opens this year."

He paused and asked, "What other ruins of the previous civilization are there? Preferably those helpful for the Primitive-level Divine Officer trial."

Qi Lingxiao asked in confusion, "Lin Qing, you have already mastered Divine Skills. Shouldn't the Primitive-level Commander Divine Officer trial be a piece of cake?"

Normally, as long as one possesses multiple sets of Holy Letters, there is a very high chance of passing the trial for a Primitive-level rare Divine Officer.

Those who master powerful Divine Skills can sweep the entire field with ease.

Lin Qing pondered how to phrase it; he could not very well say that his main concern was the 'Divine Son' trial.

Facing geniuses of a Type II civilization, a single Divine Skill was far from enough.

"There are six ruins in total."

Chu Hongjun seemed to see through Lin Qing's thoughts and said directly, "Ruin No. 1, 'The Great Vacuum Tomb', should be the most important ruin of the previous civilization. Although the entrance to Ruin No. 2 has also been found, the requirements for entry are far too high."

"You have already been to Ruin No. 3, 'The Secret Library of Stars'."

"Ruin No. 4 is named 'The Golden Merchant Association'. As long as one pays a sufficient price, one can buy or resell through the channels of the Golden Merchant Association. However, one must be a Level Three Universal Citizen to be eligible. The Intelligence Star People only know of the existence of Ruin No. 4 but do not know how to enter."

"Ruin No. 5, 'The Silver Labyrinth', has only been entered by Qi Lingxiao. It is mainly a place to test luck, and it also has certain requirements for comprehension."

Chu Hongjun said, "As for Ruin No. 6, the entrance has also appeared, but the requirements for opening it are still unclear. It seems to be related to Ruin No. 1."

Lin Qing pondered thoughtfully.

In that case, he could only try the Silver Labyrinth of Ruin No. 5.

"Ruin No. 5 depends solely on luck; nothing else matters."

Chu Hongjun said with implied meaning, "People from the extraterrestrial civilization have also tried. They entered the Silver Labyrinth to explore in energy forms, but every time the Silver Labyrinth changes. Without good enough luck, it is impossible to pass."

Qi Lingxiao also nodded and said, "That is indeed the case. In fact, I don't even know how I passed."

Lin Qing was stunned.

Regardless, he had to try.

"Don't overthink it. Just focus on your cultivation."

After Chu Hongjun finished speaking, this thought-force projection vanished without a trace.

Qi Lingxiao also nodded at Lin Qing, then disappeared without a trace.

"Lin Qing."

Yi Leina Duo said, "In a few more months, Zhao Jiayi will be able to transplant the third eye to you. You can meet more often in the Twilight Paradise; this child misses you often."

Lin Qing nodded slightly.

Second Universe Network.

Twilight Paradise.

Inside the meteor-shaped spaceship, Chu Hongjun stood before a huge floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the dim yellow outside, while Qi Lingxiao and Yi Leina Duo also appeared in the cabin.

"Old Chu."

Qi Lingxiao spoke, "I plan to attempt the Star-Level Divine Office Trial next month."

"You've mastered the other Divine Technique form?" Chu Hongjun glanced at him.

"No."

Qi Lingxiao shook his head. "I have already completely comprehended the nine eighth-level power essences, but I just haven't figured out how they combine into a Divine Technique. I really don't know what to do..."

He added, "However, my luck has always been very good. Perhaps I will achieve sudden enlightenment and master it during the Divine Office Trial?"

"Your luck is indeed very good." Chu Hongjun glanced at him. "But as your level rises higher and higher, the influence of luck becomes smaller and smaller. You cannot place all your hope on this."

"I have already prepared for failure."

Qi Lingxiao said, "If I continue to wait for another sudden enlightenment, I don't know how long it will take. It is better to try directly. It is better than being forced to kill eight billion compatriots in two years. Anyway, if I fail, I can't change anything. At worst, I'll take a gamble."

"Your heart is not ruthless enough; indeed, you are not suitable to be a leader." Chu Hongjun shook his head slightly. "I cannot dissuade you, so go ahead."

"I didn't want to be one in the first place."

Qi Lingxiao shook his head and said, "I am only suitable for leading expeditions, not for being some civilization leader. You should let Yi Leina Duo do it."

Chu Hongjun glanced at him, then glanced at Yi Leina Duo, and shook his head. "Neither of you two is suitable."

"However..." Yi Leina Duo pondered for a moment and said, "Your attitude toward Lin Qing seems somewhat different. Do you think he is suitable?" "He is indeed suitable to be the Earth Lord."

Chu Hongjun nodded slightly. "I have investigated Lin Qing's past. Although this person has bottom lines, he is also cold enough. Except for those he values, he does not care about the life or death of others."

He pushed up the glasses on his nose. "In the years since he joined the Patrol, he seems to have a special obsession with peace and stability. As the highest commander of a region, as long as it is for stability, he has never been soft-handed when killing people. He is ruthless enough and good at using violence; this is just right for this period."

"This suits my taste very well." Qi Lingxiao nodded in agreement. "I like it too."

"You only fight back openly and fairly." Chu Hongjun shook his head slightly. "If it weren't for your good luck, you would have died long ago in the apocalypse."

Qi Lingxiao laughed heartily, "But I didn't die, did I? Time and again I turned danger into safety."

Chu Hongjun didn't say much, only stating, "However, it can now be confirmed... the Wisdom Star people have indeed allowed Kadoan to possess a body and come to Earth."

"It must be Kadoan." Yi Leina Duo nodded. "The Lei Tong directly confirmed that Zhao Jiayi is with me. It must be that Kadoan determined Zhao Jiayi's location through the Three-Eyed Clan's bloodline."

"Find him and kill him."

Qi Lingxiao said, "That Kadoan is the only scholar of the Wisdom Star people in the direction of life and has contributed greatly to the Yuanchen Civilization. Take this opportunity to kill him."

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy." Chu Hongjun shook his head. "Although that Kadoan is only a scholar, his combat power must be extremely high. He has lived too long, and his self-life modification must have already reached its peak. If he deliberately hides and disguises himself, we won't be able to find him at all."

Yi Leina Duo said, "Anyway, as long as Zhao Jiayi stays with me, and only those I have planted a mental mark on are allowed to approach, I don't need to worry about Kadoan getting close to me."

"But he certainly won't give up easily."

Chu Hongjun said, "The Wisdom Star people must also understand that those seven thousand four hundred zero-point energy bombs are merely a deterrent, so they will definitely try to secretly seize Zhao Jiayi, the Three-Eyed Clan genius. Once they succeed and the deed is done, we cannot really destroy Earth."

"It doesn't matter much." Qi Lingxiao said. "That Kadoan has lowered his life level and poses no threat to us. As long as he dares to appear, I'll smash him into minced meat with one stick."

"We still need to be careful."

Chu Hongjun said, "After all, he is a Star Divine Officer. Although his life level is insufficient, his methods remain."

Inside the highest-level conference hall of the Wisdom Star Group.

"My lord Kadoan."

The white-haired three-eyed man frowned and asked, "Are you sure you have given up?"

"Yi Leina Duo is guarding that Three-Eyed Clan genius; I have no chance." The silver-haired old man 'Kadoan' shook his head. "We can only wait for her to lower her guard and for that Three-Eyed Clan genius to transplant the eye out."

"Transplant it out?"

The white-haired three-eyed man frowned. "Once the transplant is successful, that eye will connect through life and consciousness. How can we seize it then?"

"I have studied the Three-Eyed Clan for so many years and have some methods." Kadoan shook his head slightly. "Even if the eye is transplanted out, I am confident I can perform a secondary transplant; it just consumes a lot of life force."

Speaking of this, he pondered for a moment and said, "I estimate that the Three-Eyed Clan genius's eye is indeed prepared for that Lin Qing. That is why those three people value Lin Qing so much. Moreover, that Lin Qing is also of the Life system, which happens to be close to the Order system talent of that Three-Eyed Clan genius. The conditions match."

"Lin Qing..."

The white-haired three-eyed man frowned slightly and said, "Do we really need to move against him? That Chu Hongjun said... there are three situations that will cause Earth to explode. I suspect one of those situations refers to Lin Qing's safety."

"He is just bluffing." Kadoan spoke in a low voice. "He deliberately did not specify the three situations to make you dare not act rashly and make you guess which three situations they are. If he had explained clearly, we could have accurately avoided them."

He sneered, "Unless we can deceive those three people, I have no intention of killing that Lin Qing anyway. I just want to wait until he has transplanted that eye, and then I will transplant it again."

The white-haired three-eyed man pondered in silence.

After a long silence, he shook his head and said, "This is probably very difficult to achieve. That Lin Qing himself possesses a Divine Technique. Passing the Primordial-Level Divine Office Trial is a piece of cake for him. In the future, after he becomes a Primordial Divine Officer, he can pass the Yu Xingyuan's sixth layer and become the Chairman of the Star Patrol Council."

Kadoan smiled and said, "Do you think that after I lowered my life level, I cannot take down that Lin Qing?"

"A Divine Technique is still a Divine Technique after all." The white-haired three-eyed man said tactfully.

He knew that this Lord Kadoan was merely a researcher in the direction of life.

Although, because his research on life was extremely thorough, his modification of his own life body was also extremely astonishing, and his own strength was quite strong, even barely passing the Yu Xingyuan's eighth layer, after lowering his life level so much, his strength was only comparable to that of the Chairman of the Star Patrol Council.

With such strength, how could he solve a genius like Lin Qing who possesses a Divine Technique? "I haven't lived for over one hundred thousand years for nothing." Kadoan shook his head slightly. "Just watch."

……

……

The damage to the Wisdom Star Group's fortress caused an uproar throughout the entire metropolitan circle.

The most powerful Wisdom Star Group in the metropolitan circle actually suffered such an incident? Moreover, some even discovered that on this very day, the members of the Wisdom Star Group beneath the Starborn Lifeforms were nearly wiped out!

But the Wisdom Star Group offered no explanation; instead, after slightly repairing this fortress, they moved into space and replaced it with a new one.

This left all factions within the metropolitan circle even more confused.

After suffering such a huge loss, the Wisdom Star Group gave no reaction. What exactly had happened? Except for a very few who knew the truth, almost no one knew what really occurred.

As time passed, the metropolitan circle gradually quieted down again.

Lin Qing also immersed himself in cultivation day and night.

……

In the blink of an eye, two months had passed.

On July 19.

"Finally..."

In the quiet cultivation room, Lin Qing slowly exhaled: "Finally, I have another new advance slot."

A month ago, he had already comprehended and mastered all nine power essences required for the Divine Skill 'Heaven Pillar Bone'; only the final step remained—fusing the nine power essences into a single whole to cleverly form the Divine Skill.

"Order."

A thought stirred in Lin Qing's heart. "Advance: Sixth Energy Level · Divine Skill 'Heaven Pillar Bone'."

As a flood of inexplicable information surfaced in his mind, he gradually understood how to form the Divine Skill.

This was originally a sudden epiphany, a flash of inspiration that could only be grasped through such an event; normally, it was something one could encounter but not seek, and it was perfectly normal to go a whole lifetime without ever meeting it.

But for him, as long as there was a possible future, he could advance it!

"Heaven Pillar Bone..."

After a moment, Lin Qing opened his eyes and murmured, "So this is the Heaven Pillar Bone... The method of combination is indeed very clever..."

For those who know, it is not difficult; for those who do not, it remains impossible.

Without figuring out the method of combination, one might spend a lifetime unable to understand it.

Once understood, one naturally grasps the technique and that mysterious feeling within.

"Only with the strength to effortlessly sweep through the fifth layer of the Yu Xingyuan can one obtain the Primordial Realm Origin-level status."

Lin Qing pondered silently, "With my current strength, sweeping through the fifth layer of the Yu Xingyuan should be a piece of cake."

He did not speculate further; immediately, he sank his consciousness into the Star-Transmitting Tower within his body and attempted the Yu Xingyuan trial.

After a while.

Lin Qing opened his eyes again, a faint smile appearing: "Offensive Divine Skills are indeed different. Previously, against those six Original Blood Demons, I couldn't even break their defenses; now, one strike instantly killed them..."

Rotating Star Divine Skill.

After all, it was a defensive Divine Skill; relying on the momentum of its own rotation, it could barely be used for offense, but even combined with his extremely high Gene Optimization Index, its killing power was merely so-so, far inferior to its defensive capabilities.

But the Heaven Pillar Bone was different; this was a pure offensive Divine Skill!

"However, the bonuses from the Holy Words 'Blood Edge' and 'Endless Divine Power' are indeed useless now..."

Lin Qing silently shook his head. "Next time I go to the Azure Sky Archipelago, I'll find a way to exchange for a few sets of more useful Holy Words..."

He had just tested it personally.

Compared to the utilization and expression of energy by the Divine Skill Heaven Pillar Bone, the bonuses provided by the Holy Words were almost negligible.

"However, it is sufficient now."

Lin Qing stood up. "I can go to Ruin One, the 'Vacuum Great Tomb'. The Origin-level Divine Office trial takes at most two months; I must participate before the end of October, otherwise I might not make it to the Azure Sky Archipelago by year's end."

"That means, if I want to go to the Azure Sky Archipelago, I have at most three months to cultivate."

He took a deep breath. "I hope the time-accelerating place in the Vacuum Great Tomb will be enough for me to fully cultivate the entire 'World God'..."

(End of this chapter)