The warships of Zhi Zhou Dao Lang hovered above the base island, a long boarding ramp extending to touch the ground.

Elite soldiers belonging to the major factions of the Dao Alliance methodically dismantled all crucial instruments, carefully packing them before sending them into the ship's hold. As for the useless bulk within the base—the massive alloy steel supports, the movable landing deck, the huge valves for base entry and exit—these items were ordered discarded by the eager-to-leave Little Daoist Zhang.

Thousands of containers were stuffed into the transport ship's cargo bay. This represented the Zakula crystals, gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals collected by the Asian Dao Alliance during this period. Once transported back to Earth, these resources would rapidly boost the strength of the various subsidiary factions of the Asian Dao Alliance. Notably, they had gathered over two hundred thousand cubic meters of Zakula crystals, which were under the jurisdiction of the Federation Army; this alone was enough for the Asian Dao Alliance to secretly forge its own private fleet.

Little Daoist Zhang, Peng Hua, and others bustled about, checking inventory, especially the block of Xuan Ice condensed from the Nine Netherworld Spring water, which contained the sealed Little Daoist Nun Ban Jing—this required the most careful preservation. For a base housing over ten thousand people to evacuate, along with so much matériel, even after discarding as much fragmented and useless material as possible, still consumed more than two hours.

Gu Xie Chen stood at the entrance of a battleship's cabin, watching as Siren rushed in, carrying the still unconscious Arethea, whose poison was receding but whose vitality remained utterly weak.

Yuliss, now devoid of her green hair and purple skin, followed Siren into the warship with an intensely strange expression. However, she vanished from Gu Xie Chen’s sight in an instant; he had no idea where she went. In a hurried glance, Gu Xie Chen only registered Yuliss’s hair, thick, glossy, and the color of ebony; her skin, ivory-white and exquisitely fine; and a pair of lips the shade of ripe crimson, framed by mesmerizing deep blue eyes.

Having shed her alluring, tight leather suit for a simple white cloth dress, Yuliss radiated a devastating, world-toppling beauty.

“A femme fatale!” Gu Xie Chen muttered to himself.

Siren, with his sharp hearing, caught Gu Xie Chen’s murmur. His fair complexion suddenly wrinkled into a knot. He shot Gu Xie Chen a glare, his voice a low growl: “Arrange a room for me. Make it the most comfortable one! The poison in Arethea has dissipated, but her stamina is still extremely low. Damn that Hestia magic technique, I warned her!”

Looking at the statuesque, exquisitely beautiful face of the sleeping Arethea, and then recalling the enchantingly graceful silhouette of Yuliss as she fled in panic, Gu Xie Chen offered a peculiar, wry smile.

He snapped his fingers, and a young disciple of the Nine Nether Sect, whose true form was a Howling Moon Silver Wolf, hurried over. He bowed diligently to Gu Xie Chen: “Junior Brother Gu, what are your orders?”

“Hmm, arrange the most comfortable room for Mr. Siren. Place it across the hall or right next to mine!” Gu Xie Chen smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, deliberately looking at Siren’s utterly wretched face and letting out a provocative whistle. Gu Xie Chen was suddenly startled by a significant change in the Siren standing before him—a shift he could clearly sense but couldn't quite articulate.

If Siren from half a month ago felt like a beautiful siren perched on a reef, luring sailors with her song—handsome, otherworldly, yet inherently dangerous—then the current Siren seemed cloaked in a thick layer of mist, making him difficult for Gu Xie Chen to read. Faint and ethereal, in a fleeting glimpse, one could sense Siren’s handsomeness and otherworldliness, but his fatal danger had merged with the fog. Were it not for his familiarity with Siren, Gu Xie Chen might not have detected even the subtlest of auras.

“Amusing, truly amusing!”

Continuing to emit chuckles that clearly irritated Siren, Gu Xie Chen followed him, led by the Howling Moon Silver Wolf, to the living quarters in the middle section of the warship.

All necessary items were secured in the transport ship’s hold, and the Asian Dao Alliance vessels immediately engaged maximum acceleration, bursting free of the atmosphere of Paradise Star. At an altitude of about one hundred kilometers, Gu Xie Chen could still see bursts of sacred, intense light erupting along the horizon—clearly, the forces of Andre and Bobby B were still locked in battle.

“Farewell!” Gu Xie Chen rested his right hand against the viewport, waving gently toward the flashes of light.

Siren settled Arethea into the bedroom, carefully closing the door before collapsing heavily onto a sofa.

He glared at Gu Xie Chen, furious, and roared: “What are you still doing here? Uh, if I’m not mistaken, this is my room!”

Gu Xie Chen pressed a button near the viewport. The faint sound of electrical crackling hummed from the transparent glass. The transparent semi-crystalline alloy, now infused with energy, gradually adopted the same coloration as the adjacent metal plating. Sitting on the sofa opposite Siren, Gu Xie Chen crossed his legs and grinned at him: “Why so stingy? We were rivals before, but now we are friends, dear Siren, friends!”

Leaning back against the sofa armrest, one hand comfortably cradling his chin, Gu Xie Chen looked at Siren with genuine curiosity and asked: “Tell me, what happened?”

Siren’s silver eyes darted nervously a few times before finally settling on a decorative vase in the corner of the room. Siren offered a few dry laughs, mumbling vaguely: “What happened? Well, I don’t disagree with some of your assertions; we did fight side-by-side on Paradise Star. But that doesn’t mean we become friends. When we return to Earth, I think it’s best we part ways, because I haven't had a single stroke of good luck since I started dealing with you!”

“Don't be so quick to refuse!” Gu Xie Chen laughed easily: “How about the position of Second Deputy Commander of the Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group? I am making a formal invitation. Think it over carefully. I don’t know why you joined the Sacred Unicorn Mercenary Group, but I can see you are someone who dislikes stagnation. Become my partner, and together our strength will be far greater!”

Siren sneered: “With Arethea by my side, my power surpasses yours! Furthermore, my current strength is at least ten times greater than yours. Why should I become the Second Deputy Commander of the Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group? Even if Arethea and I started over, rebuilding a new Sacred Unicorn would be easily accomplished!”

Gu Xie Chen pressed his advantage: “No, your thinking is flawed. Don't forget, you had a conflict with Peng Hua; that fellow is not magnanimous. You and Arethea start fresh? With you already on the Federation's blacklist, and Peng Hua lurking nearby eager for revenge, how would you possibly start over?”

The Federation blacklist—Siren’s face stiffened. He glared furiously at Gu Xie Chen.

What a perfect plan it had been, ruined only by Gu Xie Chen. If he hadn't transmitted the intelligence about Paradise Star back to the Federation, how could Siren and the former Sacred Unicorns have ended up in such a predicament?

Siren let out a few cold snorts, his drifting gaze falling upon the Gu-style imperial chandelier overhead.

“With my help, naturally, everything would be different.”

The Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group has performed a great service for the Federation this time; its future is bright. I am confident in developing it into the Federation’s largest and strongest defense corporation, capable of building its own fleet, possessing its own directly administered military factories, bases, and interstellar exploration teams. Moreover, we will have the full support of the Asian Dao Alliance backing us.”

Gu Xie Chen looked at Siren, his tone steady and leaving no room for doubt: “I know you feel humiliated right now. You feel that doing this is submitting to someone who once routed you soundly. Oh, pride, arrogance, perhaps even a touch of the noble vanity inherited from your aristocratic family. But Siren, don't you think that in this world, you and I are the best collaborators?”

Siren shook his head, visibly flustered, cursing under his breath. He said impatiently: “Let me consider it. Perhaps I will agree with what you say. But what benefits can you offer me?”

“All your authority will be equal to mine!” Gu Xie Chen immediately smiled gently: “You should know my strength and future development potential. Is there a better option than me?”

“Oh, damn it!” Siren coughed violently, cursing: “I was almost convinced. If you can solve one problem for me, I will follow you wholeheartedly from then on!”

“Wholeheartedly following me?” Gu Xie Chen looked at Siren in surprise: “I only want—”

“A collaborator?” Siren looked at Gu Xie Chen even more astonished: “Don’t you know that a small group must have a leader? Fair collaboration is impossible between people like us. If you can fulfill your promise to grant me the same privileges and treatment as you, then joining the Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group, even becoming that damned Second Deputy Commander, won't be an issue.”

“The prerequisite is—” Siren stopped, his words catching awkwardly in his throat.

The warship shuddered slightly. Through the thick hull, the muffled thud of powerful shockwaves striking the vessel was faintly audible.

Gu Xie Chen sprang up. He activated the ship’s internal communication system, and a light screen immediately descended from the ceiling, projecting a magnificent scene of a massive fleet engaged in ferocious battle before them. Over a thousand warships of the Earth Federation Army were arrayed in rigid but heavy square formations against the more than two hundred remaining first-class warships of the Romanians. Main cannons continuously barraged each other, the interplay between the cannons and energy shields sparking vast showers of light. Roughly every dozen minutes, either a Federation warship or a Romanian warship exploded into a ball of fire.

The legendary Black Sorcery, the legendary Gu arts, and the Federation’s most advanced bio-energetics—using one’s own body as a vessel to store massive amounts of bio-energy. If Yuliss could successfully assimilate this bio-energy herself, she would have a chance to break through the constraints of her domain, which had already reached its limit, allowing her power to ascend to a higher tier in a short period.

A strange phenomenon occurred: at the moment Siren enacted his “fierce retaliation” upon Yuliss, this pure, immense energy—so shocking to both Siren and Yuliss—entirely flooded into Siren’s body!

In a matter of mere hours, Siren’s strength soared nearly a hundredfold, reaching the Mars-level standard, just as Gu Xie Chen had predicted.

“The after-effects? Where are the after-effects?”

Gu Xie Chen urged Siren impatiently.

Siren gritted his teeth, a million thoughts flashing through his mind. He suddenly stood up and unfastened his belt.

Before Gu Xie Chen appeared a male organ, entirely translucent and shimmering with purple light, looking oddly delicate and charming, like crystal.

Siren’s voice cracked with a hint of weeping: “Gods, Arethea and I agreed to marry when we turn twenty-four! But now, my Gods!”

“Wow!” Gu Xie Chen stared blankly at the organ emitting faint energy fluctuations, instinctively murmuring to himself, “How magnificent. The color, the transparency, it’s truly a work of art!”

Siren’s face darkened. He growled low: “Fix this problem!”

Gu Xie Chen looked at Siren calmly: “What happened?”

Siren snarled: “That devil woman Yuliss said it’s because I temporarily cannot absorb all the power contained within her body, so eighty percent of the energy has been stored right here! Once I absorb all the energy, I can return to normal! But it will take me at least three years to completely absorb this power, and my twenty-fourth birthday is only two months away!”

The ferocious Siren glared at Gu Xie Chen: “If you leak this information, I will kill you to silence you!”

“Relax, relax!” Gu Xie Chen shook his head easily, glancing disdainfully at Siren before sneering: “I thought it was something major? Heh heh. If you are willing to swear an oath, from now on…”

“I swear upon the honor of my ancestors of the Tongulas family that I will obey you completely from now on… provided you can solve this problem for me!” Siren hastily raised his hand to swear the oath: “If you can…”

Gu Xie Chen clapped his hands forcefully and laughed: “Then the solution is simple… Join the Asian Dao Alliance with me. We share similar interests; we can certainly become close martial brothers… Hmm, tell Arethea that after this setback, you’ve decided to enhance your cultivation to deal with future challenges… therefore, the Corpse Emperor has taught you the Art of Chastity!”

“The Art of Chastity?” Siren stared blankly at Gu Xie Chen.

“It’s that kind of cultivation technique where you are forbidden from intimacy with women before achieving great mastery; if you engage in intimacy, all your meridians will snap, rendering you crippled,” Gu Xie Chen stated casually. “This excuse is sufficient to make Arethea wait three years before marrying you. Hmm, before you marry, she wouldn’t demand to check your private parts, would she?”

Siren dazedly pulled up his pants and mechanically fastened his belt.

Tilting his head, Siren muttered to himself: “The Art of Chastity? Uh, the Art of Chastity? That seems like a decent idea.”

A moment later, a smile slowly spread across Siren’s face: “Yes, a perfect excuse. Of course, this requires your help to clearly explain the situation to that zombie Peng Hua.”

“Leave it to me. I’m the flavor of the month among them now; so many people are trying to curry favor with me,” Gu Xie Chen boasted, slapping his chest as he took on the task. “But what about what you promised me?”

A flush of red swept over Siren’s fluctuating complexion. He puffed out his chest and said to Gu Xie Chen with studied reserve: “I find that following you might not be so bad after all. At least judging by the events on Paradise Star, your methods are superior to mine. So, I can follow you for a period of time first.”

Watching Siren preen, Gu Xie Chen’s face fell.

“If I had known, I would have suggested he practice the Sunflower Manual…”

Siren babbled on incessantly, detailing all the benefits he required: the number of guards, the amount of deposits, the luxury homes and vehicles, and so on. Gu Xie Chen grew weary of Siren’s pointless rambling and stood up directly to seek out Peng Hua.

Settling this matter quickly—getting Peng Hua and Arethea to join the Hell’s Angels Mercenary Group? That would be magnificent.

With Gu Xie Chen himself, that would make three Jie Shi!

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Xie Chen’s eyes. It seemed he now possessed sufficient strength to settle some accounts with certain people.

Three Jie Shi… three Jie Shi who had only recently merged…

Hmm, could they really deal with Old Gu?

Vote for us… More votes mean Little Gu and his companions grow stronger! (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log on to…)

The legendary Black Sorcery, the legendary Gu arts, and the Federation’s most advanced bio-energetics—using one’s own body as a vessel to store massive amounts of bio-energy. If Yuliss could successfully assimilate this bio-energy herself, she would have a chance to break through the constraints of her domain, which had already reached its limit, allowing her power to ascend to a higher tier in a short period.

A strange phenomenon occurred: at the moment Siren enacted his “fierce retaliation” upon Yuliss, this pure, immense energy—so shocking to both Siren and Yuliss—entirely flooded into Siren’s body!

In a matter of mere hours, Siren’s strength soared nearly a hundredfold, reaching the Mars-level standard, just as Gu Xie Chen had predicted.

“The after-effects? Where are the after-effects?”

Gu Xie Chen urged Siren impatiently.

Siren gritted his teeth, a million thoughts flashing through his mind. He suddenly stood up and unfastened his belt.

Before Gu Xie Chen appeared a male organ, entirely translucent and shimmering with purple light, looking oddly delicate and charming, like crystal.

Siren’s voice cracked with a hint of weeping: “Gods, Arethea and I agreed to marry when we turn twenty-four! But now, my Gods!”

“Wow!” Gu Xie Chen stared blankly at the organ emitting faint energy fluctuations, instinctively murmuring to himself, “How magnificent. The color, the transparency, it’s truly a work of art!”

Siren’s face darkened. He growled low: “Fix this problem!”

Gu Xie Chen looked at Siren calmly: “What happened?”

Siren snarled: “That devil woman Yuliss said it’s because I temporarily cannot absorb all the power contained within her body, so eighty percent of the energy has been stored right here! Once I absorb all the energy, I can return to normal! But it will take me at least three years to completely absorb this power, and my twenty-fourth birthday is only two months away!”

The ferocious Siren glared at Gu Xie Chen: “If you leak this information, I will kill you to silence you!”

“Relax, relax!” Gu Xie Chen shook his head easily, glancing disdainfully at Siren before sneering: “I thought it was something major? Heh heh. If you are willing to swear an oath, from now on…”

“I swear upon the honor of my ancestors of the Tongulas family that I will obey you completely from now on… provided you can solve this problem for me!” Siren hastily raised his hand to swear the oath: “If you can…”

Gu Xie Chen clapped his hands forcefully and laughed: “Then the solution is simple… Join the Asian Dao Alliance with me. We share similar interests; we can certainly become close martial brothers… Hmm, tell Arethea that after this setback, you’ve decided to enhance your cultivation to deal with future challenges… therefore, the Corpse Emperor has taught you the Art of Chastity!”

“The Art of Chastity?” Siren stared blankly at Gu Xie Chen.

“It’s that kind of cultivation technique where you are forbidden from intimacy with women before achieving great mastery; if you engage in intimacy, all your meridians will snap, rendering you crippled,” Gu Xie Chen stated casually. “This excuse is sufficient to make Arethea wait three years before marrying you. Hmm, before you marry, she wouldn’t demand to check your private parts, would she?”

Siren dazedly pulled up his pants and mechanically fastened his belt.

Tilting his head, Siren muttered to himself: “The Art of Chastity? Uh, the Art of Chastity? That seems like a decent idea.”

A moment later, a smile slowly spread across Siren’s face: “Yes, a perfect excuse. Of course, this requires your help to clearly explain the situation to that zombie Peng Hua.”

“Leave it to me. I’m the flavor of the month among them now; so many people are trying to curry favor with me,” Gu Xie Chen boasted, slapping his chest as he took on the task. “But what about what you promised me?”

A flush of red swept over Siren’s fluctuating complexion. He puffed out his chest and said to Gu Xie Chen with studied reserve: “I find that following you might not be so bad after all. At least judging by the events on Paradise Star, your methods are superior to mine. So, I can follow you for a period of time first.”

Seeing Siren’s smug expression, Gu Xiechen’s face fell.

“If I’d known, I would have told you that you needed to cultivate the Sunflower Treasure Paste.”

Siren chattered incessantly, listing every kind of treatment he required: how many bodyguards, how much money in the bank, how many mansions and luxury cars, and so on. Gu Xiechen grew utterly annoyed listening to Siren’s useless rambling. He stood up abruptly and went straight to find Miao Hua.

Settling this matter quickly was paramount: Peng Hua and Areidea joining the Hell Angels Mercenary Group? That would be absolutely fantastic.

Adding Gu Xiechen himself, that made three Jie Shi!

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Xiechen’s eyes. It seemed he now possessed enough strength to settle scores with certain people.

Three Jie Shi... three Jie Shi who had only recently merged...

Hmm, could they handle Old Gu?

Give tickets... With more tickets, Xiao Gu and the others’ strength would surely increase.