Eighteen hours passed in the blink of an eye. At eleven o'clock the next morning, Song Shiyan received a message from Li Xiaofei. The meeting location was set outside Chongque City, in a starfield at the thirteenth node south of Stargate E25A.
It was a chaotic asteroid sea beyond the solar system. Composed of hundreds of thousands of planets, the region formed an elliptical zone of chaos, and was perpetually shrouded in darkness and cold. The terrain was treacherous, and ordinary spacecraft could not enter without risk of destruction, since they could easily collide with drifting debris.
Only lifeforms at the Neutron Star level or above dared to enter this place with their physical bodies.
Li Xiaofei had requested to meet Song Jinglun alone. At 11:37, the starship belonging to Song Jinglun, the city lord of Chongque, appeared at the outer edge of the asteroid sea.
As one of the peak experts in Chongque City, he had absolute confidence in his own strength. However, his long-cultivated cautious nature prevented him from being reckless. He made careful arrangements before stepping out from his starship and entering the asteroid sea alone.
The asteroid sea, made up of hundreds of thousands of large and small planets and countless fragments of shattered meteorites, was a land of death. Due to a unique magnetic field, communication systems and formation energies failed to function here. It was an ideal place for hiding and escaping. It was also extremely difficult to set any ambushes.
A meticulously chosen meeting place, indeed. A cold smile appeared on Song Jinglun's lips.
He ventured deep into the asteroid sea, skillfully avoiding countless chaotic debris belts along the way. He arrived at the designated location precisely at noon. The timing was perfect. That, too, had been intentional.
"This official has arrived. Li Qingchen, are you still unwilling to show yourself?" A wave of energy rippled outward, echoing across the starfield like a call.
There was no response.
Thirty seconds passed, but it felt endlessly long. Song Jinglun frowned.
Could Li Qingchen be trying to lure the tiger from the mountain? If so, that is far too naïve.
He had already made thorough preparations before leaving the city. There was no need to worry about the other party stirring up trouble within the city. Suddenly, a single wave of energy came from behind him.
“City Lord Song, I’ve long heard of your name.” A youthful voice sounded.
Song Jinglun was slightly startled. When he turned around, he saw Li Xiaofei appear a hundred meters away. His slightly plump figure, dressed in a white tracksuit, looked no different from an ordinary, unremarkable homebody.
“Li Qingchen!” Song Jinglun uttered the name in a cold and ghostly tone.
He had never been so miserable since becoming the Lord of Chongque City. Yet the one who had done it was someone utterly insignificant that they were a mere puppet in his eyes. The moment he saw Li Xiaofei, his heart surged with anger and killing intent.
“City Lord Song, I asked you here today because there is a question that has long troubled me, one I could never answer. In the entirety of Chongque City, only you have the answer. I ask that you enlighten me.” Li Xiaofei spoke calmly.
“You have no right to ask me anything,” Song Jinglun responded arrogantly, clearly not taking Li Xiaofei seriously. He said coldly, “You murdered two directors of the Dark Division. That is an unpardonable crime. Surrender now and kneel, and I will grant you a dignified death. Your family and friends will be spared.”
Li Xiaofei let out a soft laugh.
“City Lord Song, since you know I killed two directors, why would you think I’d surrender so easily?” He mocked. “You have no bearing nor vision as a city lord. If you still insist on acting so high and mighty, then all I can say is you’re even more ridiculous than I imagined.”
“Insolence!” Song Jinglun struck without hesitation.
He flicked the long sleeves of his traditional green robe. Hundreds of meteorites of various sizes a kilometer to his right instantly ignited, transforming into blazing stars. They shot toward Li Xiaofei at lightning speed, crashing down on him like a storm.
As the Lord of Chongque City and one of the few Black Hole level powerhouses, even a casual move from Song Jinglun carried the might of a forbidden technique.
Li Xiaofei raised a single palm and gently pushed forward. All the burning meteorites froze in midair. Then, he clenched his hand. The hundreds of flames compressed into a single mass, merging together in the void. Li Xiaofei blew lightly and all the firelight was instantly extinguished. The space returned to emptiness, as if nothing had ever happened.
Song Jinglun’s eyes narrowed sharply.
In that instant, he completely reassessed Li Xiaofei. When he had heard of Han Sui and the others being killed, he had assumed Li Xiaofei was no more than a Pulsar level being. Given Li Xiaofei’s background and previously displayed techniques, there was no way he could be Black Hole level but now...
Shocked as he was, Song Jinglun quickly regained his composure. Whenever he deemed someone worthy of being his opponent, no matter how much that person had angered or embarrassed him, he would swiftly adjust his stance and strategy.
Anything A Black Hole level being who had hidden his strength for so long planned was enough to make even a city lord wary.
“What is it you want to ask?” asked Song Jinglun, no longer making a move.
Li Xiaofei replied, “I want to know, are the one hundred thousand base planets truly meant to serve as reserves for supplying troops to the frontlines, or have they become private playgrounds for a handful of people to indulge their ambitions and desires?”
Song Jinglun answered coolly, “Are you interrogating me?”
Li Xiaofei said, “I’m seeking guidance.”
Song Jinglun’s response was perfectly official. “Of course, they exist to supply manpower to the battlefield across cosmic space. They are the final bastion and hope of humanity.”
Li Xiaofei pressed further, “Then why are so many star beasts being dropped onto the base planets? Why are the humans there treated like livestock and playthings to be trafficked? And why has there never been any sign of you, as the city lord, working to improve the situation?”
Song Jinglun’s answer remained diplomatic, “The deployment of star beasts is a long-standing tradition. As a Chief Evolution Officer, you should be aware that it is meant to stimulate humanity’s combat instincts and latent potential and accelerate evolution. As for human trafficking, that’s an isolated issue, instigated by the vile organization Eden. As for whether I’ve governed diligently, this city lord does not need to explain his actions to you. My conscience is clear.”
“Well, well. What a righteous and dignified answer.” Li Xiaofei let out a sigh. “If your people hadn’t already sealed off and surrounded this entire region, I might’ve actually believed you.”
“Oh? You noticed?” Song Jinglun replied. “Seems it’s already too late.”
Figures began to emerge one after another from the chaotic asteroid belt surrounding them. They were hidden forces from the City Lord’s Office. They were all clad in pitch-black armor, and wore eerie black ghost-faced masks. Their entire bodies seemed to emit a dark mist, and the aura they released surpassed even that of Han Sui, a director-level powerhouse.
But what truly shocked Li Xiaofei was that among them, four individuals faintly emanated the unmistakable pressure of Black Hole level beings.
Four Black Hole levels?! You’ve got to be kidding. How many Black Hole level beings even exist in all of Chongque City? And now this many... suddenly popping out of nowhere like hidden bosses?