Threatened by Liu Hui, the Hong Kong government paid a heavy price. They swiftly reacquired the land surrounding Starry Sky Group, granting it to the company for free use, and also introduced other preferential policies. Their eagerness stemmed not only from compensating Starry Sky Group for past grievances but also from persuading Liu Hui against any thoughts of relocating the enterprise.

Although Liu Hui obtained the land he coveted and received favorable policies, he was not particularly happy. While Starry Sky Group appeared to have suffered no losses and even gained policy compensation, this incident made Liu Hui acutely aware of the group's fundamental lack of security. This realization solidified his resolve to accelerate Starry Sky Group’s development, construct Star City, and strive to achieve the capability for self-preservation as soon as possible.

During this ordeal, Starry Sky Group also lost an Eighth-Grade Energy Stone, which remained untraceable. Not even a tiny clue about its whereabouts had surfaced. It was unknown whether it had fallen into the hands of some major organization or if an ordinary person had simply picked it up, mistaking it for a common stone.

That Eighth-Grade Energy Stone contained a terrifying charge equivalent to ten billion kilowatt-hours. If such a high-grade energy stone were acquired by capable organizations, and they managed to decipher the method of utilizing its contained energy, they would recognize its immense practical value, particularly for weaponization. It could easily lead to the creation of high-power laser weapons and railguns, marking a revolutionary milestone for their research. Therefore, they would certainly not be satisfied with just one Eighth-Grade Energy Stone; they would inevitably move to seize others. This potential situation placed Starry Sky Group in extreme danger, and this latent threat was precisely what worried Liu Hui the most at present.

However, the initiative regarding this looming threat was not in Liu Hui’s hands; he could only await the opponent's move before deciding on a countermeasure. Yet, he would not remain idle. He had two courses of action available. First, he could actively seek out and eliminate the potential organization responsible, nipping the major threat in the bud. Second, he could accelerate his own rate of development. Only by becoming powerful enough could Starry Sky Group fearlessly confront the entire world, which would naturally neutralize the threat from this potential organization.

Just as Liu Hui was harboring lingering dissatisfaction over the incident, Alexander from the Magic Plane contacted him. A flicker of excitement crossed Liu Hui's mind. Previously, Alexander had been preoccupied with taking possession of the Bi Clan’s assets and slaves, leaving no time for contact. Alexander initiating contact now—had his takeover finally concluded?

Alexander appeared somewhat haggard on the Plane Trade Device screen, but his demeanor was clearly delighted. He greeted Liu Hui cheerfully, "Esteemed Teacher, greetings!"

Liu Hui smiled. "My dear Alexander, greetings to you too! Are you finally done with your previous commitments?"

Alexander chuckled. "Yes, Teacher. Our Holy Church of Light has completely taken over the Bi Clan's assets and the slave populations under them."

Liu Hui remarked, "You look so gleeful; your harvest this time must have been substantial?"

Alexander avoided the question with a mysterious smile. "Teacher, please examine this first." With that, he produced a small leather pouch, placed it on the Plane Trade Device, and initiated a trade.

Curiously, Liu Hui accepted the trade, retrieving the pouch. As he opened it, the brilliant radiance emanating from its contents immediately dazzled his eyes.

"This... this is?" Liu Hui instinctively shielded his eyes and asked in astonishment.

Alexander laughed triumphantly. "Teacher, this bag contains nothing but God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores I discovered in the Bi Clan's warehouse. There are twelve of them in total, covering all elemental attributes."

Liu Hui narrowed his eyes, slowly allowing them to adjust to the dreamlike, multicolored divine light radiating from the God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores. Gazing at the twelve cores in the small pouch, his heart bloomed with elation.

The Science Research Institute had been studying God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores for some time but still had not fully cracked their secrets. They had only derived the most basic conclusion: each core contained energy far exceeding one hundred billion kilowatt-hours. However, the exact total energy content remained unknown, as no existing instrument could measure such immense power levels.

Thus, even using the conservative benchmark of one hundred billion kilowatt-hours, a single God-Grade Beast Crystal Core’s charge surpassed the entire annual power generation of China's Three Gorges Dam. More miraculously, after their energy was consumed, these cores could continuously absorb unknown energy from the void, gradually replenishing the depleted amount.

Experiments had proven that if the electricity drawn from a God-Grade Beast Crystal Core did not exceed one hundred million kilowatt-hours daily, that consumed energy could be fully replenished from the void within the same day. Meaning, consuming one hundred million kilowatt-hours daily caused the core no structural damage, as consumption and replenishment reached a perfect equilibrium. As long as energy extraction wasn't excessive, the core’s energy supply would never deplete—unlike cores below the Eighth Grade, which were finite once exhausted. These cores could be used perpetually.

Liu Hui had previously been satisfied with the two God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores he already possessed, but now he had unexpectedly acquired twelve more. Calculating conservatively, if energy consumption and replenishment balanced perfectly, these fourteen cores could yield five hundred and eleven billion kilowatt-hours annually. Considering that China's total electricity generation last year was only forty-two trillion kilowatt-hours, the sustainable power provided by these fourteen cores—without diminishing their fundamental capacity—amounted to one-eighth of the nation's total power output. This was an astonishing figure. If this extracted energy were channeled into Star City's needs, it could easily cover the city's annual energy requirements, and this supply would never run dry. It was little wonder Liu Hui’s heart was bursting with joy at this sudden, colossal energy windfall.

"My dear Alexander, you have done excellently this time. Teacher is very pleased with your gift; remember to collect more God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores in the future," Liu Hui said happily.

Alexander beamed. "As long as Teacher is pleased, that is all that matters. I always remember your instructions, which is why I prioritized finding these twelve God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores in the Bi Clan's warehouse."

Liu Hui asked with some curiosity, "Logically, these God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores should be exceedingly rare. Why did the Bi Clan possess as many as twelve?"

Alexander chuckled. "Teacher may not know, but the Bi Clan acquired these twelve God-Grade Beast Crystal Cores by robbing a troop of Elves. According to the survivors, their ancestors belonged to one of the oldest principalities in the Elven World beyond the mountains, once immensely powerful and wealthy. However, their lineage had gradually declined over the years and was eventually annihilated by rival principalities. During their escape, they managed to carry away some rare treasures, and these twelve cores were their family's accumulation spanning countless years. Unfortunately, they had bad luck; fleeing into the mountains, they were completely wiped out by the Bi Giant Beasts. The twelve cores subsequently fell into the Bi Clan's hands. However, those Bi Giants disliked the multicolored divine light the cores emitted, so they casually tossed them into a corner. I discovered these cores while clearing out their warehouse and, recalling your directive, brought them to present to you."

Liu Hui smiled. "Very good, very good. My good student understands respect for his teacher, proving the value of the knowledge I imparted. By the way, did you find anything else useful in the Bi Clan’s repository?"

Alexander replied cheerfully, "Their warehouse was indeed vast, and the contents were extremely disorganized. It took us a considerable time to compile a rough inventory. The main items stored were crude weaponry and provisions. Those Bi Giant Beasts engaged in constant raiding, destroying countless primitive tribes and confiscating all their food supplies into their own storage. Consequently, the Bi Clan warehouse held enough grain to sustain the populace under the Holy Church of Light's jurisdiction for over two years. As for the weapons, they were useless to us; they were simply too rudimentary."

Hearing that Alexander had secured such vast stores of food, Liu Hui was also delighted. With more grain, he could reduce his supplies to Alexander and instead provide items that enhanced the quality of life. Crucially, Alexander was now generating massive returns through conflict, potentially fostering the belief that war leads to rapid wealth, which might inspire him to expand outward and plunder others—thereby continually supplying Liu Hui with novel goods, which were Liu Hui's source of profit.

Thinking this, Liu Hui secretly rejoiced. He inquired, "Have you finalized the arrangements for the captured Bi Giant Beasts and the other enslaved races under them?"

Alexander said with a smile, "I revised the doctrines of the Holy Church of Light based on the new tenets you provided me last time. The revised doctrine specifically states that the Bi Clan, the Fox Clan, the Pigg Clan, and all other races were created by the God of Light specifically to serve the Human race, the God's favored children, and to accept their governance. However, after the God of Light fell into slumber, these races betrayed Him, establishing their own tribes and rejecting human rule. Now that the God of Light has awakened, He is furious to see these races’ betrayal of humanity and intends to exterminate them. But, through the merciful dissuasion of the Pontiff of the Holy Church of Light, the God has temporarily spared their lives, contingent upon them rededicating themselves to the Light of the God of Light. They must completely submit to the authority of the Pontiff, the God’s agent on earth. Due to their past transgressions, they are all demoted to the status of human slaves to atone for their sins. Nevertheless, the God of Light has offered a glimmer of hope to these treacherous races: if they worship the God of Light devoutly and make significant contributions to the Holy Church of Light, their status as slaves will be pardoned, and they will once again become free adherents of the God of Light."

Liu Hui was momentarily stunned speechless. Although he had instructed the eccentric talents in his so-called 'novel concept office' to revise and integrate these newly emerged races into the canon of the Holy Church of Light, he hadn't anticipated that Alexander would use the revised doctrine to manipulate the enslaved races. Moreover, the justification Alexander used was remarkably plausible and subtly constructed, leaving no discernible flaw. It was predictable that once these enslaved races believed in the God of Light, they would diligently serve as slaves to repay their supposed debts, striving to prove themselves worthy of becoming free followers.

Feeling that Alexander's handling of this matter was once again challenging his ego, Liu Hui quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. "How is the training of your Bi Knights progressing?"

Last time, Alexander had conceived the idea of training Bi Knights, which was why he hadn't entirely annihilated the Bi Giant Beasts, choosing instead to capture them as mounts for human warriors.

"Teacher, we have commenced training the Bi Knights. We selected one hundred and fifty Bi Giant Beast slaves and paired them with human warriors who have reached the standard of Level Seven Warriors. These warriors will ride those one hundred and fifty Bi Giant Beasts to undertake armed training. However, the current problem is that we have too few Level Seven Warriors, so the number of Bi Knights is also small—only one hundred and fifty. Their count is far below my expectations, meaning even concentrated deployment won't showcase the true power of these Bi Knights," Alexander admitted, slightly frustrated.

"Why not train the lower-level warriors to become Bi Knights as well?" Liu Hui asked doubtfully.

"Because warriors below Level Seven are simply too weak. Upon approaching a Level Seven Bi Giant Beast, they are overwhelmed by the beast's pressure, causing them to tremble uncontrollably. This is due to the inherent aura differential between power levels; they cannot overcome this. Furthermore, those Level Seven Bi Giant Beasts look down upon these lesser warriors and are unwilling to let them ride upon them. Therefore, we cannot significantly expand the Bi Knight corps at this stage. And if Bi Knights cannot operate as a cohesive legion, their true combat potential cannot be realized," Alexander explained the reasons in detail.

When Liu Hui had previously explained Earth's history of warfare, he had recounted stories of concentrated tank usage. Consequently, Alexander had equated the deployment of tanks with that of Bi Knights, planning to field a heavy armor Bi Giant Beast Knight legion in the Magic Plane.

Liu Hui suddenly grew curious. "Since most of those Bi Giant Beasts possess the combat strength of Level Seven Warriors, have they ever practiced any cultivation techniques?"

Alexander shook his head. "None. Those Bi Giant Beasts achieved the human Level Seven Warrior standard purely relying on their inherent physical strength. I estimate that if they were to practice suitable cultivation methods, their strength would increase dramatically, certainly not remaining capped at the Level Seven Warrior benchmark. Our human warriors are comparatively too weak against them. If I didn't possess that mysterious weapon, those Bi Giant Beasts might already be revolting."

Liu Hui sighed. This issue, ultimately, stemmed from the slow progression of human warrior strength, which prevented them from effectively commanding the Bi Giant Beasts. If human warriors progressed rapidly, those Bi Giant Beasts would likely submit to their management. After all, in the relatively primitive Magic Plane, the jungle law of the strong preying on the weak held significant sway. However, the cultivation progress of humans in these Magic Planes was painfully slow, and Liu Hui lacked a viable solution. Should he perhaps allow them to utilize the converted Monster Beast Crystal Cores?

The thought of those converted Monster Beast Crystal Cores suddenly sparked an idea in Liu Hui's mind. The energy contained within the cores converted into Cultivator Spirit Stones—being elemental-neutral—should be usable for the cultivation of warriors and mages in the Magic Plane. Since these spirit stones could rapidly enhance the strength of cultivators, they ought to be capable of rapidly boosting the strength of the human race in the Magic Plane as well, right?

Previously, Liu Hui had heard no record of Magic Plane inhabitants using Monster Beast Crystal Cores during their cultivation. Therefore, if Alexander’s warriors and mages utilized the energy within these cores for training, wouldn't their progress rate be faster than those who only absorbed ambient energy from the air? These cores were, after all, products of the Magic Plane!

With this notion firmly planted, Liu Hui immediately became energized, preparing to seriously plan out whether this endeavor was feasible and actionable.

Alexander, being young, only dwelled briefly on the inadequacy of human strength before growing cheerful again. He produced a strange wooden pillar and displayed it to Liu Hui on the Plane Trade Device screen.

"What is this? It seems to have some very strange drawings carved onto it!" Liu Hui asked curiously.

"Teacher, this is the Bi Clan’s Totem Pole. If Bi Giant Beasts fight within the Totem Pole's protective radius, their combat effectiveness gains a 20% boost. The raiding party that attacked us previously underestimated us and failed to bring their totem pole, leading to their swift defeat. Had they brought it that day, the outcome of the battle might genuinely have been uncertain," Alexander stated, feeling a degree of lingering apprehension himself.

Thank you to book friend: Sky Freedom Eagle for the monthly ticket support. I just realized that monthly tickets cast during the event are doubled. So, thank you! Your vote increased my total tally by two. A