A plume of loess shot up from the ground, and Xin Jia’s enormous frame emerged from beneath the roots of a great tree.

(For the full novel text, visit Shiliu Literature Website)/|() Ultra-fast updates/| He cautiously surveyed his surroundings, then raised the large battlefield observation device in his hand.

The chaotic scene of the forward base, a dozen kilometers ahead, was instantly relayed back to the command center.

The Roman warships hung suspended nearly a thousand meters above the ground; not a single vessel descended.

Only occasionally, a few crescent-shaped fighter jets skimmed low over the forward base, flying almost flush with the surface.

Their long trails of plasma flame sent large slabs of rare metal ingots tumbling and rolling across the ground.

Apart from these fighters, not a single Roman was visible.

Even the Roman army that had captured the base had returned to their ships.

Aside from a few observation instruments, the Romans had left nothing behind.

Time crawled by, twenty full hours having passed since the Romans seized the forward base.

Finally, two small warships were released from the mothership.

The vessels rapidly landed, and a detachment of Romans emerged.

They watched each other warily as they picked up dozens of raw Zakula energy crystals from the ground, and used a couple of maintenance robots to heft up a dozen rare metal ingots.

These individuals then returned to their ships and rejoined the mothership.

Gu Xiechen rubbed his face vigorously while watching the relayed images on the light screen.

He spoke coolly, "It seems they believe they've routed us and are now busy dividing the spoils." Siren let out a cold laugh, "Are you truly not worried that those Romans will discover that most of those storage depots are filled with mere clods of earth? That only the top layer contains energy crystals and metal ingots?" Wiggling the index finger of his right hand gently from side to side, Gu Xiechen said with confidence, "Rest assured, they are currently arguing over who gets to occupy the base we abandoned.

They won't have the time for a thorough ground survey of these depots to see if they are stacked with all sorts of precious minerals.

Heh heh, when they finish squabbling, we’ll have quite the show to watch." Just as Gu Xiechen predicted, aboard the Trident of the Devouring Nebula, the Romans were engulfed in a frenzy of argument.

Seated around a circular conference table, Polukin slammed his fist on the tabletop and roared, "The honor of our First Electoral Family demands that we occupy this base!" Yakkin immediately chimed in, "Precisely! We are the great First Electoral Family; it is imperative that we occupy this base and these three nearby locations!" Yakkin jabbed his finger fiercely onto the three-dimensional map hovering above the table.

These three locations were all the most scenic spots with the richest surrounding mineral deposits.

Bolport angrily hammered the table, screaming, "Our Second Electoral Family also possesses ancient glory! Furthermore, it was our family's warriors who first stormed the base below! This base should be ours to take over! Moreover, of these three locations, our Holsum Family should at least have one!" The scions of the other Electoral Families immediately pointed at Bolport and shouted, "Bolport, you have disgraced the honor of all us Romans! What right do you have to demand these privileges? This base should be jointly received by us, and everything on this planet should be divided equally among us!" The chaotic dispute raged on.

The direct descendants of the nine great Roman Electoral Families vied fiercely to carve out the largest slice of the pie for themselves.

The Earth Federation Army was right behind them; in a few days, they would reach Paradise Star, and a fierce battle awaited them.

They wouldn't have enough time to excavate the mineral veins.

This base, a thousand meters below, held enormous resources—priceless treasures capable of increasing the power of any single Electoral Family by at least twofold! These treasures were right before their eyes, requiring no strenuous labor to extract! Each one desired to swallow this piece of fat meat whole, unwilling to let anyone else have a taste, thus making dispute inevitable.

Several Romans entered the meeting room.

They inserted a storage chip into an analysis computer beside the table, and a light screen descended from the sky, over which vast amounts of data scrolled like a tidal wave. "This is the data obtained from the mineral samples collected just now," one Roman exclaimed excitedly. "Raw Zakula crystal, metallic ores—all top-grade materials!" The atmosphere in the room instantly solidified, followed by a clamor of excited shouting as everyone put forth various reasons why they should be the ones to occupy the forward base.

Time ticked by, yet the Roman warships remained suspended high in the air; not a single vessel landed.

Their fighter jets repeatedly zipped over the base, but not a single Roman dared step foot inside.

Any living creature attempting to sneak into the base to steal even one crystal or metal ingot would instantly face the merciless, concentrated firepower of all three hundred and forty Tier One warships! Two days passed, and the Roman fleet remained completely motionless.

Gu Xiechen yawned in the command center and looked helplessly at Siren.

Siren rolled her eyes at him, narrowed her eyes, and began to doze off.

Aredia said to Gu Xiechen with thinly veiled mockery, "You certainly have the Romans' psychology pegged! But how long will it be before they step into our trap?" Gu Xiechen pointed toward the sky.

He said resignedly, "Man proposes, God disposes.

We wait! Perhaps Miss Aredia is interested in going out to duel the Roman fleet? I shall offer my blessings!" Aredia’s expression immediately turned grim.

Xin Jia, still holding the battlefield observation device, suddenly raised it.

Everyone in the command center immediately saw three remarkably small fleets whistling past at high altitude.

These three fleets simultaneously detected the Roman fleet and, ignoring the Roman warships, brazenly turned and headed straight toward them.

Transmissions crackled across the public channels, and Gu Xiechen’s command center also picked up the signals.

Polukin appeared on the light screen, roaring, "What are you doing here?" The screen suddenly split into four sections, and three other figures appeared.

A figure entirely enveloped in a black cloak spoke menacingly, "This is none of your business.

You are not to obstruct our movements!" A young man dressed in a scarlet bishop’s robe gracefully made the sign of the cross over his chest and stated calmly, "As Pope Bibil states, your Roman fleet is not permitted to interfere with our operations, or the glory of the Lord will descend upon your heads and purify you completely!" Another handsome young man, wearing a pale azure Bagua Daoist robe with his hair tied in a topknot, chuckled lightly, "Archmage Bibil and Archbishop Andrei are entirely correct.

We will not interfere in your war with the Federation, and you had best not interfere with us.

Otherwise, you won't even have the chance to regret it!" A few small Tier Two warships were blatantly issuing threats to three hundred and forty Tier One Roman warships, yet they showed no fear.

Gu Xiechen watched with relish, while Polukin and the other Romans turned pale with rage.

However, perhaps due to some unseen constraint, the Romans remained silent.

The two smaller fleets swaggered around the Roman fleet once, then veered off, one toward the east and one toward the west.

The two smaller screens on the light panel vanished, leaving only the young man in the Daoist robe and Polukin still displayed.

Ranhua pushed the young Daoist aside and asked Polukin with a smile, "Did you capture this base?" Polukin proudly lifted his chin, "Yes!" Then, with a hint of nervousness, Polukin asked, "Why do you ask? According to the agreement between the Pantheon and your people, you cannot interfere in conventional warfare!" Ranhua frowned and pressed further, "Then, have you seen Siren of the Holy Unicorn Mercenary Group?" Yakkin popped up on the light screen, declaring arrogantly, "All the Earthlings who dared resist have been killed! Every single one! They are no more!" Ranhua’s face darkened.

He angrily cut the communication, "Damn it! I was planning to get revenge on him! That damned cross-dresser actually got himself killed?" The phrase ‘damned cross-dresser’ was heard perfectly clearly by Siren.

Her face turned ashen, and Aredia, standing nearby, radiated fiery anger from head to toe.

Gu Xiechen switched off the communicator, took a deep breath, and shook his head, "The underground forces of the Earth Federation have begun to intervene." Shaking his head, Gu Xiechen murmured, "The Vatican Curia, the Asian Daoist Sect, the Pantheon of Gods...

Heh, what are they here for?" Slowly pulling a bundle of bamboo slips from his sleeve, Gu Xiechen squinted and whispered, "Is it for this?" A secret communication code forcefully bypassed the security and connected to the command center’s communicator.

Pope Bibil, Andrei, and the handsome young Daoist all appeared simultaneously on the screen.

Bibil shouted sternly, "Evil Dragon Gu Xiechen, if you are alive and have received our signal, move toward us immediately." Andrei smiled gently, "Mr.

Gu Xiechen, the great Lord requires your service.

Enter the Lord's embrace, and we can grant you anything you desire." Before the young Daoist could speak, Ranhua shoved him aside.

Ranhua stated plainly, "Gu Xiechen, we have met before; we can be considered acquaintances! Hand over what you possess, and tell us what you know.

Our Asian Dao Alliance will back you!" He paused, then sighed, "If you are alive, you best contact us quickly.

If you are dead, that is for the best.

If you are willing to submit to our Nine Nethers Dao Sect, I can act as your introducer!" This time, Gu Xiechen directly yanked the power cord out of the communicator. "Troublesome, but I'm not afraid of trouble!" Gu Xiechen smiled thinly, lightly weighing the bamboo slips in his hand.

He stated coolly, "To be sold to the highest bidder! What a wonderful feeling this is!" ×××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××× Comrades, recommendation votes, recommendation votes...

Pig Head is catching a train today...