Chapter 194: Capture Yan Qingqing Alive

Just then, Lin Qing suddenly felt a massive telepathic force sweep over him, its life level clearly higher than his own.

Immediately after, a voice laced with mockery rang through the telepathy:

"Since Councilor Lin began exploring the Sky Archipelago, every target has been accurate; it seems you know this treasure trove quite well. This time you headed straight for Sky Island No. 288. What inheritance lies on Sky Island No. 288?"

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow slightly, having already recognized the voice transmitting the sound.

He immediately said in a calm tone, "Chairman Pu Luo, you might as well wait until Councilor Yan Qingqing passes the trial, then ask her yourself."

Pu Luo was a Star Creature of the Wisdom Star Group and one of the six Councilors of the current Star Patrol Council.

"Councilor Lin need not test me."

Chairman Pu Luo sneered, "Yan Qingqing has already been confirmed. The difficulty of the inheritance trial on this Sky Island is extremely high; she can only try slowly. Perhaps she will fail in a moment. Why not wait for her to come out, Councilor Lin?"

"Wanting to waste my time?" Lin Qing also smiled.

The Sky Archipelago is open for a limited time; unless one has no choice, who would waste time waiting?

"Of course, a peerless genius like Councilor Lin would not be so foolish," Chairman Pu Luo mocked. "But as a great enemy of our Wisdom Star Group, do you think we would yield even an inch regarding anything that could hinder you?"

Lin Qing's eyes turned cold.

The Wisdom Star Group had obviously seen through his understanding of the Sky Archipelago; naturally, they could guess that the Sky Island inheritance he had set his sights on must be what he needed most at this moment.

At this very moment, Yan Qingqing happened to be inside Sky Island No. 288. Naturally, the Wisdom Star Group chose to keep Yan Qingqing inside the Sky Island indefinitely; as long as Yan Qingqing occupied this Sky Island, he could not enter it.

Just then—

"Lin Qing, you have a call request. The number indicates it is Yan Qingqing." Chen Guang's voice suddenly rang in his mind.

"Yan Qingqing?"

Lin Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately ordered, "Connect it."

Immediately, a virtual screen visible only to him materialized, and on the screen was Yan Qingqing, appearing like a young girl.

"Councilor Lin."

Yan Qingqing spoke, "I did not expect that after just a few months of not seeing each other, you have already become a Councilor-level figure. If you had possessed such strength last time, I would surely be dead."

"Did you think you could escape?" Lin Qing said expressionlessly.

Yan Qingqing frowned slightly and said, "Last time, you truly intended to kill me... We had never met before; what grudge exists between us?"

Lin Qing said indifferently, "Is that all you wish to say?"

"It seems your killing intent is set? Pity... Councilor Lin, you cannot kill me." Yan Qingqing said calmly, "Before the Yuan Chen Civilization descends upon Earth, I will not leave the Wisdom Star Group's Space Fortress even a single step. You have no chance."

"Oh?" Lin Qing looked at her.

"However, representing the Wisdom Star Group, I can make a deal with you."

Yan Qingqing said, "As long as you provide intelligence on one hundred Sky Islands, I will come out of Sky Island No. 288. How about that? The inheritance on this Sky Island should be very important to you, right?"

Lin Qing looked at her and suddenly let out a scoff, "Delusional..."

"Unwilling? Then make it less, ninety Sky Islands..."

Yan Qingqing still wanted to bargain, but Lin Qing directly ended the call.

Immediately after, he sent a message to Chu Hongjun:

【Dean Chu, regarding the matter you entrusted to me last time, I have now found a good motive.】

Chu Hongjun replied immediately:

【Then begin.】

Lin Qing glanced at this Sky Island once more, then immediately vanished without a trace.

"Hmm?"

Chairman Pu Luo, observing from a distance via telepathy, was stunned: "Where did he teleport to?"

He expanded his telepathy again, but even after covering half the Earth, he still could not locate Lin Qing. Could he have gone offline?

Inside the Space Fortress where the Wisdom Star Group is located.

This massive Tier-7 Fortress is divided into 380 layers, with the 350th layer and above belonging to the core area.

At this moment, inside Cardan's laboratory.

After the silver-haired elder Cardan entered the rest room, his consciousness immersed itself in the light gate within his mind; immediately, a tiny light point flew out from between his eyebrows.

The spatial scale where the light point was located rapidly expanded, and in an instant, a naked young man formed.

It was none other than Lin Qing!

"Suicide is easy, resurrection is also easy..."

Lin Qing sighed, and at the same time, a crack opened between his eyebrows, revealing a vertical eye within the crack that shimmered with pale silver light.

Afterwards, he casually took out a set of clothes from the alternate space, put them on, and walked towards the laboratory exit.

At this moment, his aura began to condense until it nearly vanished completely.

—This is a secret technique used during the Divine Son Trial to test comprehension. This secret technique originally had the effect of disguising one's aura; in a Tier-1 Civilization, it is considered quite remarkable. With his current strength, it is even more useful than the Holy Letter 'Hidden World'.

At the same time, Lin Qing also used his domain to distort the surrounding light, achieving the effect of invisibility.

When he walked to the laboratory wall, the vertical eye between his eyebrows flickered slightly, and immediately covered the wall ahead with a channel of the alternate space.

Immediately, he walked straight through it, as if the wall had vanished.

—This is the application of the ability of the eye between his eyebrows.

The alternate space is like an invisible giant beast, and the alternate space channel is like its giant mouth; anything bitten by it temporarily enters the alternate space, appearing as if it has vanished.

If one cannot resist the suction, one will be completely sucked into the alternate space, as if swallowed into a stomach; if one resists the suction, one will be spat out intact.

Just now, he used the alternate space to temporarily swallow the wall before him; the wall appeared to still be there, but in reality, it was merely within the alternate space.

Of course, this section of the wall is connected to the fortress as a whole, so the alternate space cannot truly swallow it; it can only temporarily make this section of the wall disappear.

This move works well on inanimate objects; if it were a living being capable of resisting the suction of the alien space, it could easily withdraw from the alien space.

"As expected..."

A faint smile curled Lin Qing's lips. "Even a seventh-tier fortress cannot be built entirely from materials with spatial properties..."

If it were materials with spatial properties, or an energy aggregate too powerful, then the current spatial passage would be of no use.

But for such inanimate objects, there is no need to worry.

How precious are materials with spatial properties? Such a massive fortress can only mix a small amount into its key main body.

"Fortunately, Kadoan knows the structure of this fortress..."

A massive three-dimensional structural diagram of the fortress floated in Lin Qing's mind, and he immediately began walking briskly outward.

Fortress, Level 352, Zone A, inside a bright and spacious personal residence.

The various rooms of the entire residence were mainly pure white, spotless, indicating that the owner clearly had a cleanliness obsession.

Inside the solid and completely sealed cultivation room stood a semi-transparent, eggshell-shaped rest pod.

Lying quietly within the rest pod was a beautiful young woman. Dressed in a pure white gown, her closed eyes made her look as if she were in a deep sleep, tranquil and lovely, as if unaware of the ways of the world.

It was none other than Councilor Yan Qingqing.

Although she was not a Wisdom Star, as a Primitive Divine Servant who had also implanted the eyes of the Three-Eyed Clan, she was qualified to reside on Level 352 of the Lone Star Fortress.

In fact, the core layer of the Wisdom Star Group's fortress was already safe enough, but every time she logged into the Second Universe Network, she did so within the cultivation room, which isolated mental power, force fields, energy fluctuations, and so on, and then hid inside this sturdy rest pod, thereby eliminating all possibilities of danger.

—This was a habit she had formed during the apocalypse.

Suddenly, within this completely sealed and locked cultivation room, the airtight solid walls underwent a slight spatial shift, and a figure walked in silently.

The figure approached the semi-transparent, eggshell-like rest pod and gazed quietly at the sleeping young woman inside.

On his forehead, a vertical eye emitting a faint silver light was visible.

"So much need for security? Pity, a cultivation room and a rest pod cannot possibly use materials with spatial properties..."

Lin Qing's lips curled slightly upward. With a thought, the vertical eye on his forehead flickered with light, and Councilor Yan Qingqing, hidden inside the rest pod, vanished into thin air.

Although the gravitational pull of the alien space passage was weak and not difficult to resist, Councilor Yan Qingqing's consciousness had logged into the Second Universe Network; like a vegetative state, she naturally could not resist.

Immediately, with a thought, Lin Qing stored the World God and other energies into the alien space, suppressed all his own defensive capabilities, and then the power within his body shook violently—

Silently, his entire body turned into near-vacuum nothingness.

Instantly and completely annihilated, leaving not a single trace.

Second Universe Network.

Within Sky Island No. 288 of the Azure Sky Archipelago.

Inside the dark, gloomy maze passage, Yan Qingqing frowned as she looked at the metal guards blocking the path ahead. "The guards on this path are actually stronger. I can't get through from this side either; it seems there's no way..."

She also wanted to pass the trial of this sky island, but the trial was simply too difficult.

As she delved deeper into this maze trial, the strength of the maze guards became increasingly terrifying; the one before her even reached the peak of the fifth layer, approaching the sixth layer.

"Forget it..."

Yan Qingqing slowly retreated, feeling somewhat irritable: "If only Lin Qing had told me the information about the other sky islands. There would surely be a legacy suitable for me, and I wouldn't have to block myself here, wasting opportunities..."

Although she occupied this sky island, preventing Lin Qing from entering, this was purely harming others without benefiting oneself; she also couldn't explore other sky islands. "This Lin Qing... what grudge do I have with him that his killing intent toward me is so strong?"

Yan Qingqing furrowed her brows tightly.

Although she was hiding within the Lone Star Fortress and didn't care about Lin Qing's retaliation, and wouldn't need to fear it once Earth opened, facing such a terrifying genius still made her feel a chill.

She truly couldn't figure it out.

She had always been cautious and careful; for any enemy, she would absolutely cut off the roots, and for those who might seek revenge, she would try to exterminate their entire family.

Where exactly did this Lin Qing come from?

"Forget it, I'll give up on this exploration. Earth's opening is imminent; I must demonstrate my loyalty to the Wisdom Star Group as much as possible..."

Yan Qingqing shook her head slightly, then pondered carefully: "Just right, Lin Qing's desire for revenge against me can also be utilized. If I help the Wisdom Stars eliminate such a future threat, my status will be different. Plus, that my lord from the Nine-Star Civilization also helped me back then..."

Suddenly—

"Hmm?"

Yan Qingqing's expression changed abruptly: "My body..."

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Although her consciousness had logged into the Second Universe Network, she still had a sensation of her own body in reality; she just couldn't control it.

At this moment, she could feel her body in reality being moved!

Yan Qingqing gritted her teeth, instantly sent a message to the high command of the Wisdom Star Group, and then logged out of the Second Universe Network.

At the same time she logged out of the Second Universe Network, she was also expelled from this sky island.

When Yan Qingqing opened her eyes in reality, she couldn't help but feel dazed.

Before her was pure darkness, without any light.

She swept with her mental power, feeling only emptiness, without any energy or matter, not even gravity, as if she were in the cosmic void of space without stars.

The Starry Battle Suit began to slowly absorb her energy, providing everything needed for her life activities.

"What place is this?"

Yan Qingqing found it hard to believe.

She was clearly inside her personal residence in the core area of the Lone Star Fortress, and had specifically hidden inside the rest pod to log into the Second Universe Network!

How could she appear here the moment she opened her eyes?

"What exactly is going on... could this be my illusion?"

Yan Qingqing remained vigilant, sweeping her mental power around to avoid any sudden crisis.

……

Inside the underground base deep within the Earth's crust.

In the cultivation chamber.

The Black Flame Clone sat cross-legged, his consciousness immersed in the light gate within his mind; immediately, a beam of light shot out from his third eye.

The light spot rapidly expanded, instantly transforming into a naked young man.

"You're back."

Lin Qing appeared in the cultivation chamber, casually merging the Starry Sky Battle Armor placed nearby into his body, letting it shift into clothing, before sitting down opposite the Black Flame Clone.

"Yan Qingqing... finally in my hands..."

Lin Qing's fingertips gently stroked the vertical eye on his forehead; he did not rush to open a spatial channel to observe Yan Qingqing with his telekinesis, but instead prepared to log into the Second Universe Network.

Given Yan Qingqing's nature, she must have already logged off.

We can take this opportunity to enter Sky Island No. 288.

As for revenge against Yan Qingqing... since she is already inside a different space, no one can save her.

"Take it slow."

Lin Qing immediately closed his eyes, logged into the Second Universe Network, sent Chu Hongjun a message saying 【Success】, and then flew into Sky Island No. 288.

……

Wisdom Star Group.

"What?"

At the very top of the Lone Star Fortress, Lei Tong slowly frowned: "Yan Qingqing says her physical body in reality has been moved?"

At this moment, he was exploring a sky island in the upper layer of the Firmament Archipelago.

As a Star Being, one can enter the Second Universe Network with part of their consciousness while keeping part of it in reality.

Lei Tong looked at Pu Luo, who had come below to report, immediately expanded his telekinesis, and simultaneously ordered the fortress's intelligent system to verify.

Soon—

"Hmm? How is this possible? Yan Qingqing is actually gone!"

Lei Tong suddenly rose, his eyes filled with disbelief; he couldn't help but frown deeply, finding the situation utterly incredible.

A living person, clearly hidden in the core area of the Lone Star Fortress under heavy protection, how could they suddenly vanish without a trace?

Within this Lone Star Fortress, even a powerhouse of the Star Abyss Ninth Layer like the Archon could not achieve such a feat!

Silently, suddenly gone?

"Is Yan Qingqing still alive after logging off?" Lei Tong looked at Pu Luo and asked with a frown.

"I'm not sure."

Pu Luo shook his head and said, "I have already sent her a message."

He paused, then couldn't help but say, "Could this be related to that Lin Qing? Because Yan Qingqing happened to occupy the sky island Lin Qing wanted to explore; at that time, he disappeared directly from the Second Universe Network. I thought he had teleported away, but now it seems he might have logged off?"

"Lin Qing?" Lei Tong frowned. "Where is he now?"

As a Star Being, Pu Luo also kept part of his consciousness logged into the Second Universe Network, with his telekinesis constantly covering and observing all areas.

He immediately said, "Lin Qing just appeared outside Sky Island No. 288 and went straight in."

Lei Tong slowly narrowed his eyes.

Just then—

"Yan Qingqing has logged on."

Pu Luo suddenly spoke, then exclaimed in surprise: "She says she is in a space with nothing at all, a zero-gravity environment similar to outer space, or perhaps it is an illusion technique."

"A space with nothing at all?" Lei Tong's expression suddenly changed; he transmitted his voice and said, "My Lord Kadoan, please come here."

Soon, the silver-haired old man appeared in the hall.

"... My Lord Kadoan, the general situation is as described."

Lei Tong frowned and said, "I feel this might be an ability that Lin Qing obtained from that ninth-level genius of the Three-Eyed Clan; after all, ninth-level abilities all involve space. What do you think?"

"Then that must be the only reason," the silver-haired old man frowned and said. "It's just... I'm unsure what kind of ability that is, to make Yan Qingqing appear directly in a dead, silent space? Did she explore that space?"

Pu Luo nodded and said, "Yan Qingqing said she checked; that space has a diameter of over one hundred kilometers, but there is no energy or matter whatsoever."

The silver-haired old man frowned: "Space... this is a blind spot for our Level One Civilization... Report to the Archon immediately."

Lei Tong slowly nodded, took a deep breath, and said, "What worries me most now is... if it really was Lin Qing, did he remotely teleport Yan Qingqing into that space? Or does it mean... he actually infiltrated the Lone Star Fortress?"

His face darkened: "If it is the latter, this Lone Star Fortress will no longer be an invincible refuge without flaws..."

Hearing this, Kadoan also frowned, then said, "There is no need to worry too much. Even if Lin Qing truly has the ability to enter, he cannot turn the world upside down; otherwise, if the Earth faction could deal with you, why would they have waited until now?"

Lei Tong's expression brightened slightly; he nodded gently and said, "That is true. The Earth faction has only one last chance to explore this Firmament Archipelago, but Qi Lingxiao hasn't come to explore at all; it seems his Divine Office Trial truly failed."

Only Star Divine Office Holders among the Earth Universe Citizens can enter the nine sky islands in the upper layer of the Firmament Archipelago.

And this visit to the Firmament Archipelago is also the last chance before Earth opens up.

Chu Hongjun and Yi Leina Duo have both come; as for Qi Lingxiao, besides his Divine Office Trial failing, he can think of no other reason.

"As Chu Hongjun predicted..."

Lin Qing pondered silently below, "However, why did Chu Hongjun ask me to seize an opportunity to act once..."

But this suited him perfectly.

"I have already reported the matter of Yan Qingqing to the Archon."

Lei Tong suddenly said, "The Archon said that since Yan Qingqing once served as a servant to a great figure of the Nine-Star Civilization, he asked me to inform that great figure of this matter as well."

"A great figure of the Nine-Star Civilization?" Lin Qing couldn't help but be stunned.

The silver-haired old man spoke up: "When was this? Yan Qingqing served as a servant to a great figure of the Nine-Star Civilization?"

"That was decades ago. Because that great figure came to Earth in secret, hiding it from the Nine-Star Civilization, we were ordered to keep it confidential. Only the Archon knew, so I did not tell you."

Lei Tong said, "Councilor Yan Qingqing and Grok are both servants that My Lord casually took in on Earth, helping My Lord explore Earth's ruins, such as the No. 3 Ruin, the Starfall Secret Library."

"If that great figure had not specifically named Councilor Yan Qingqing, how could she possibly have the qualification to obtain the Eye of the Three-Eyed Clan?" Lei Tong sighed softly.

Lin Qing suddenly remembered that Yi Leina Duo had also said that before her, an unknown person had entered the Starfall Secret Library, suspecting it was Grok.

Moreover, the origin of Councilor Yan Qingqing's third eye also matched Chu Hongjun's speculation.

"What is the background of that great figure from the Nine-Star Civilization?" the silver-haired elder immediately asked.

"I do not know."

Lei Tong shook his head and said, "But when that great figure came to Earth, he was a Primal Divine Servant. Because he needed to break through, he left Earth. This time, the Archon was able to confirm that Earth was formed from fragments of a Level 2 Civilization, thanks to that great figure asking the Ancestor of the Nine-Star Civilization for help."

Lin Qing's heart sank slightly.

He had originally thought... even if Earth would be discovered by a Level 1.9 Civilization, it would have to wait until after it opened up. He never expected it had already been discovered long ago?

(End of this chapter)