Chapter 1372: Third Anniversary Ceremony (1)

After dinner, Yingxin sat on the sofa, surrounded by a group of Primarchs.

She held the purple stone Horus had given her in her arms, her eyes shining brightly.

"Brother Horus, tell me a story about fighting!"

Horus sat down beside her.

"Alright, what do you want to hear?"

Yingxin thought for a moment.

"I want to hear about the Zerg, a big one! One that's very powerful!"

Horus said.

"Then I'll tell a story about a Norn Emissary. It's one of the most powerful units of the Zerg."

Yingxin's eyes widened.

"And then? And then? How did you fight it?"

Sanguinius chimed in.

"The first one I fought was very fast, so fast that my Spear almost couldn't strike it."

Yingxin asked.

"Isn't Brother Sanguinius's Spear very powerful?"

Sanguinius nodded.

"It is very powerful, but that Norn Emissary was faster. It dodged my first strike and then counterattacked from the side. Its Scything Talon grazed my wing, nearly knocking me out of the sky."

Yingxin covered her mouth.

"So dangerous, are you alright, Brother Sanguinius?"

Seeing his little sister concerned for him, Sanguinius, having achieved his goal, said.

"But in the end, I was the one who won."

Yingxin clapped her hands.

"Brother Sanguinius is the best!"

Magnus coughed from the side.

"I also contributed to fighting the Norn Emissary."

Yingxin said.

"Brother Magnus is also great! But you don't have a Spear."

Magnus said helplessly.

"I use my own psychic powers as a weapon; psychic powers are more powerful than a Spear."

Yingxin tilted her head and thought for a moment.

"What color are psychic powers?"

Magnus said.

"Red."

Yingxin said.

"I like red, then you are also great."

Magnus was finally satisfied.

After dinner, Perturabo stood alone in the courtyard, looking at the new building under construction in the distance.

He held a cup of tea in his hand.

Dorn walked out of the house and came to his side.

"What are you thinking about?"

Perturabo did not turn his head.

"Thinking about the East District drainage pipes."

Dorn said.

"What I said just now wasn't directed at you; if you think the current plan is better, then use the current one."

Perturabo said.

"I know, but you're right, the population is growing. Fifty years from now, the current pipes might not be enough.

From the perspective of long-term stability, the main drainage pipes should use high-strength, corrosion-resistant materials."

Dorn fell into Silence for a second.

"Are you planning to use nano-composite pipes?"

Perturabo nodded.

"The cost will be higher, but the building density and population density in the East District are both relatively high, and urban drainage pressure will increase significantly in the coming decades. Getting it right the first time saves us from having to dig it up and rebuild it later; the saved maintenance costs can cover the material premium. All in all, it might not be more expensive than the current plan."

Dorn said.

"If you need help, just say so. I have some experience in civil engineering."

"No need, I can handle it myself!"

As the night grew deeper, the Primarchs left the dining room one after another.

Some went back to their rooms to rest, some went to the study to read, some played chess in the living room, and some took walks in the garden.

Mother Ying sat on the sofa, knitting a sweater in her hands.

Curze sat beside her, flipping through a book in his hands.

"Curze, aren't you going to chat with your other brothers?" Mother Ying asked.

Curze shook his head.

"I want to stay with Grandmother for a while."

Mother Ying smiled and said.

"Alright, stay as long as you like."

Outside the window, the night sky of Xiuluo Holy Star was brilliant with starlight.

In the living room of the Primarch Residential Area, Yingxin was curled up in Horus's arms, already asleep.

Her hand was still clutching that purple stone.

Horus looked down at her.

"She's asleep."

Guilliman walked over and said in a low voice.

"Put her on the bed; you'll get tired sitting like that."

Horus stood up and carried Yingxin toward her room.

Her room was not large, but it was very warm, with her drawings pasted on the walls.

Horus gently placed her on the bed and tucked her in.

Yingxin turned over in a daze, her hand still clutching the stone.

"Big brother... good night..."

Horus said softly.

"Good night, Xiaoxiner."

Xiuluo Holy Star, Primarch Residential Area, Emperor's study.

The next morning, sunlight spilled in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm patches of light on the dark wooden floor.

Yingzhou sat at the desk, the holographic screen in front of him displaying the list of all Primarchs.

The door was knocked on gently.

"Come in," Yingzhou said.

Luojia was the first to walk in, wearing the ceremonial robes of the Word Bearers Legion, holding that string of Psionic Crystal Rosary in his hand.

He sat down on the left side of the desk.

Guilliman followed behind, wearing a dark blue coat; he sat down on the right side of the desk and unfolded a Data Pad.

Horus strode in, his long black coat left open, and he leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed.

Sanguinius walked in gently, his white casual clothes glowing with a soft luster in the morning light, his long golden hair draped neatly over his shoulders.

Mortarion wore a grey turtleneck sweater, walked in silently, sat down, and said nothing.

One by one, the Primarchs entered in succession; Jaghatai entered last, wearing a long white trench coat with a leather belt at his waist, his black hair slightly messy.

Perturabo did not come.

Yingzhou also roughly guessed that the other party was not interested in these matters.

The young Fulgrim was helping Mother Ying tidy the garden, the young Leman was still sleeping, the young Alpharius and Omegon were somewhere unknown, and the young Curze was by Mother Ying's side.

They did not need to come.

Yingzhou looked around at everyone present.

"Everyone is here, let's begin."

Selina's holographic projection flickered slightly and began to record.

Yingzhou leaned back in his chair.

"I called you here today for two things. First, it has been three years since the establishment of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance, and I intend to hold a public ceremony for the entire Bode Star System."

"Three years ago, when the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance was founded, not a single Alien faction in the Bode Star System looked at us squarely. Now, the Fengqi Star Alliance has been wiped out, the Canaan Star Alliance is crippled, we have troops stationed on the border of the Ash Star Alliance, the Daikong Star Alliance has signed a Non-Aggression Treaty, and no surrounding faction dares not to look at us squarely."

Guilliman nodded.

"Father is right, but some factions still have an impression of us from three years ago."

Yingzhou looked at him.

"Therefore, we need a ceremony. Let the surrounding factions see that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is not a makeshift military alliance, but a stable, powerful, and orderly political entity."

Sanguinius asked.

"Father, how do you plan to arrange the ceremony?"

Yingzhou said.

"Invite representatives from surrounding Alien factions to attend and have them come to Xiuluo Holy Star. Let them see our cities, our armies, and our people."

He stood up and walked to the window.

"Let them know that the peace of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is not based on luck, but on strength."