As the senior echelon of the "City of Starlight" witnessed the six-winged battle angel annihilate the colossal starship on the surveillance feed, a surge of exhilaration swept through them. They shouted and leaped about, slapping high-fives with those beside them.

They were celebrating this rare victory; despair had previously settled upon them, the belief that humanity would not survive this calamity. Yet, unexpectedly, their boss, Liu Hui, displayed godlike prowess. First, he summoned the Celestial Dragon of Huaxia to drive the extraterrestrials from Earth back into space, and then he conjured the six-winged battle angel, obliterating the massive starship and all the smaller vessels scattered throughout the cosmos, blasting those arrogant aliens back to their home.

Liu Hui single-handedly defeating the invaders, coupled with the sudden appearance of the Celestial Dragon of Huaxia and the Seraphic Angel, cloaked him in an aura of myth. His image instantly magnified in the eyes of these people. At that moment, Liu Hui was the savior of the "City of Starlight," the very hope of humanity.

Without a word, every one of them turned their gaze toward the door of Liu Hui's chamber, a silent decision forming in their minds.

Directing the six-winged battle angel, Liu Hui had finally destroyed the alien starship, having expended half of the angelic energy's innate spiritual essence. Even the smaller ships scattering in retreat across space did not escape total annihilation.

Though hundreds of thousands of alien troops still remained on Earth, without the support of their starship, they posed no further threat to humanity or the "City of Starlight." The stone that had been lodged in Liu Hui's chest finally lifted. He commanded the six-winged battle angel to return immediately to the "City of Starlight," then pushed open his door and stepped out.

The instant Liu Hui emerged, he saw everyone in the command center staring at him, their eyes gleaming with an almost strange light. Someone took the lead, and a wave of thunderous applause erupted, filling the entire room.

Liu Hui paused, rubbing his nose, and asked, "What... what are you all doing?"

Yue Wang suddenly stepped forward and declared, "Mayor, please establish the Starry Sky Empire and become our Emperor..."

Liu Hui blinked, replying, "Fourth brother, what mischief are you brewing?"

De Sheng chimed in, "Boss, establishing the Starry Sky Empire now, with you as our Emperor, is beyond dispute. Please agree!"

Zhou Tengyun also added, "Big Brother, every citizen of the 'City of Starlight' will support you as Emperor. Don't hesitate any longer, lest you break everyone's hearts..."

Liu Hui said with a hint of helplessness, "Why bring this up now? Didn't I say we would discuss this later?"

Mei Peng suddenly stepped forward and announced, "Everyone, I actually have a secret I haven't shared. This secret concerns the Boss."

Everyone paused, asking, "What secret about the Boss?"

Seeing their interest piqued, Mei Peng adopted a mysterious air and asked, "Does everyone know why the Boss's surname is Liu?"

De Sheng played along perfectly: "Dean Mei, why is the Boss named Liu?"

Mei Peng spoke mysteriously, "Actually, the Boss is a direct descendant of Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the greatest empire in Huaxia, the Han Empire. According to the Liu family genealogy, the Boss is the sixty-seventh generation descendant of Liu Bang. That is why his surname is Liu."

Liu Hui listened, stunned. A descendant of Liu Bang? Was this a joke? Besides, he knew better than anyone whether he was related to Liu Bang; how could Mei Peng possibly know?

Mei Peng continued, "As everyone knows, our Boss is a man indifferent to fame and fortune, which is why he never mentioned this to you. But we will not forget that the Han Empire, founded by Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, marked the beginning of our Huaxia Han culture. It was a mighty empire, and our term for 'Han people' originates from it. Therefore, it is heaven's decree, utterly natural, that a descendant of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang should become the Emperor of our Starry Sky Empire. Do you not agree?"

The room fell silent for a beat, then immediately erupted in cheers: "We implore the Boss to be our Emperor! We implore the Boss to be our Emperor..."

Liu Hui's expression shifted. He pulled Mei Peng aside and whispered, "Second brother, what exactly are you up to? How could I possibly be Liu Bang's descendant?"

Ignoring Liu Hui, Mei Peng continued loudly, "Everyone, after the 'City of Starlight' was founded, under the Boss's proposal, we have slowly restored many Huaxia rites, including using Traditional Chinese characters, wearing Hanfu, honoring ancestors, and reinstating Huaxia moral codes. In essence, we in the 'City of Starlight' are the true inheritors of Han culture. Why would the Boss do all this? Because he could not bear to watch the Han culture founded by Ancestor Gaozu Liu Bang fade away. From the Boss's actions, can you not discern his intent? Thus, the fact that the Boss is a descendant of Ancestor Liu Bang is absolutely beyond question..."

Liu Hui was dumbfounded. He never imagined that his usual conduct would be interpreted by Mei Peng in this manner, forcing a connection between him and Liu Bang, while the people in the room sank into deep thought.

In the beginning, they simply wanted Liu Hui to become Emperor, so concocting a lineage connecting him to Liu Bang seemed inconsequential. But after hearing Mei Peng's analysis, they began to feel that Liu Hui genuinely should be a descendant of Liu Bang. With this realization, the way they looked at Liu Hui became even stranger.

Frustrated, Liu Hui pulled Mei Peng into a side room and demanded, "Second brother, what is really going on? You know perfectly well that our Liu family has nothing to do with Liu Bang's lineage."

Seeing they were alone, Mei Peng immediately changed his demeanor and said with a wronged expression, "Boss, you can't blame me for this. This tactic wasn't my idea; it's the product of everyone's collective wisdom. We originally intended to tell you another time, but now that you've defeated the aliens! Your prestige has peaked; this is the perfect moment to announce it!"

Liu Hui lamented, "But I'm not a descendant of Liu Bang at all! If this is discovered, won't I be utterly humiliated?"

Mei Peng chuckled, "Boss, whether you are Liu Bang's descendant is actually irrelevant. What matters is that everyone believes you can protect us and that following you promises a future. Look at the immense damage these aliens inflicted on Earth and Mars. Public morale is unstable right now. If you don't bravely step up to shoulder this leadership burden, the world might collapse into war due to a lack of strong leadership..."

After seeing the massive destruction wrought upon Earth and Mars by the aliens, Liu Hui knew he couldn't leave Earth anytime soon. Only he could counter future alien offensives in the solar system and ensure humanity's safety. Even though he had eliminated this current invasion force, who knew when the next wave might arrive, or if they would continue the slaughter?

Therefore, for security reasons, Liu Hui could not leave the "City of Starlight" until it became truly powerful. Given the circumstances, Liu Hui himself no longer felt much resistance to becoming Emperor.

Liu Hui whispered, "It's not as if just saying I'm a descendant of Liu Bang makes me one, is it?"

Mei Peng smiled reassuringly, "Don't worry, Boss. I've already contacted your uncle and aunt and gathered the names of your ancestral lineage. We are currently compiling an official family tree. This genealogy will guarantee that every Liu family member from Liu Bang down to you over the past millennia will appear on it."

Liu Hui was astonished. He realized they were already preparing the groundwork to solidify his position. At that moment, he felt a sensation akin to Zhao Kuangyin back then—being forced onto the throne by his subordinates. However, his difference from Zhao Kuangyin was that the coup of the latter was orchestrated by Zhao Kuangyin himself, pushed through by proxy, whereas Liu Hui was entirely passive, genuinely compelled by the situation.

Just as Liu Hui was about to speak, his phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and saw it was his wife, Hu Xian'er.

Liu Hui felt a jolt of alarm. Hu Xian'er knew he was dealing with an emergency and wouldn't call under normal circumstances. Her call now suggested a major crisis at home.

Anxiously, Liu Hui answered, only to hear Hu Xian'er's joyous voice: "Water Buffalo, I have to congratulate you. Anqi just gave birth to a son for you..."

Liu Hui was startled, then overjoyed. He asked excitedly, "What about Anqi? How is she? Is she alright?"

Hu Xian'er laughed, "Anqi is fine too; mother and son are safe. When are you coming to visit them?"

Liu Hui exclaimed excitedly, "I'm almost done wrapping things up here. Those damned aliens have been defeated. I'll be there right away."

Mei Peng, overhearing Liu Hui, asked, "Boss, what happened at home?"

Liu Hui joyfully replied, "Second brother, I am so happy! Anqi just gave birth to a son for me..."

Mei Peng brightened, then seemed to recall something important. He rushed into the outer room and shouted, "Everyone! The 'City of Starlight' celebrates a double blessing today! The Boss led us to defeat the accursed aliens and saved humanity from their clutches. Just now, news arrived from the hospital: Miss Anqi has borne the Boss a son! Doesn't this suggest that Heaven itself is rewarding the Boss? From this perspective, the Boss becoming the Emperor of the Starry Sky Empire has received divine approval..."

Hearing that Liu Hui had another son, everyone in the room erupted in delight, chanting in unison, "Congratulations, Boss! Congratulations on your flourishing family!"

Liu Hui cupped his hands and smiled, "Heh heh, shared joy, shared joy... Right, I must go to the hospital now to see mother and child. I'll leave things here to you all."

The crowd responded in chorus, "Don't worry, Boss! You took care of the main alien force; leave those small fries on Earth to us! We guarantee they will be wiped out completely..."

When Liu Hui arrived at the hospital, he immediately saw Anqi and their child. Anqi, having just given birth, rested on the bed with a weary expression. Because the baby was born two months early, he was premature, and his body appeared somewhat delicate. However, after a thorough examination by the doctors, Liu Hui was told the child had no major issues, only needing a period in the incubator.

Overjoyed, Liu Hui held Anqi's hand and said, "Anqi, you really went through so much..."

Anqi looked at Liu Hui, a smile touching her lips, and said, "Liu Hui, we finally have a child. We will never be separated again..."

Liu Hui laughed, "Silly Anqi, even if we didn't have a child, we wouldn't be separated..."

A blush crept across Anqi's pale face, and she asked, "Liu Hui, what happened with those aliens?"

Liu Hui smiled, "Rest assured, we've eliminated every single alien that invaded us. Even their starship was destroyed by me; they can no longer threaten our safety. In fact, I must thank you for creating that six-winged angel energy being and those powerful map bombs for me."

Anqi finally let out a sigh of relief and smiled, "That’s wonderful news. I was terrified these aliens would destroy us humans! Liu Hui, you've seen our child now. What name are you planning to give him?"

Liu Hui pondered for a moment and said, "Anqi, the 'City of Starlight' defeated the wicked aliens today—a victorious day. But our son was born early, and his body is weak; he will need to overcome this innate frailty in the future. So, I've decided to name him 'Sheng' (Victory). His name will be Liu Sheng. It honors our victory over the aliens, and it’s my hope that he will conquer all difficulties in his life to become a healthy and happy person."

Anqi repeated "Liu Sheng" a few times under her breath, then smiled, "Liu Hui, that name is incredibly cool. I love it! Thank you!"

Liu Hui replied with a smile, "In truth, Anqi, I should be thanking you. Without you, the me standing here today would not exist..."

Anqi grew emotional, grasping Liu Hui's hand, "Liu Hui, let's never be separated again..."

Outside the ward, Hu Xian'er, Liang Jingyue, and Shu Yan watched Liu Hui and Anqi holding hands. Jealousy mingled with warmth in their hearts, but the predominant emotion was joy: joy that Liu Hui had another son, joy that the "City of Starlight" had defeated the aliens.

Through a strange confluence of fate, Liu Hui had four women in his life, making it impossible to fulfill the promise of love equally to all. Logically, Liu Hui's household should have been fraught with conflict. However, his women were considerate and prioritized the greater good, choosing mutual compromise and forgiveness for the sake of their shared beloved. Thus, while his family wasn't perfectly harmonious, it was exceptionally united.

Liu Hui's love was divided among several women—a misfortune. But the saving grace amid this misfortune was that he managed the balance adeptly, investing genuine love in each woman, which sustained this rather extraordinary family dynamic.

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The alien starship had been destroyed by the six-winged battle angel, and all smaller vessels dispatched from it were annihilated by Liu Hui. The only surviving aliens were the ground forces scattered across Earth. Although these alien armies still numbered in the hundreds of thousands, they were mere remnants, lacking powerful armament, utterly incapable of withstanding the heavy weaponry deployed by the "City of Starlight."

Consequently, the Security Force of the "City of Starlight" launched a powerful offensive. Under the barrage of their heavy weaponry, the alien forces began to crumble, facing total annihilation by the Terrans. However, by this time, Liu Hui had his third child, and his mood was not as filled with absolute wrath as before. To prevent cornering these aliens into a final desperate act that might drag more Earthlings down with them, he issued an order for surrender, rather than the previous policy of total extermination.

The situation underwent a dramatic reversal: previously, the aliens demanded the Earthlings surrender; now, the Earthlings demanded the aliens yield. Despite the vast disparity in status, the aliens were cornered and, to survive, began surrendering to the Starry Sky Guard. Of course, some die-hards refused to yield to native Earthlings and chose to fight to the death, but they were instantly crushed under the powerful assault of the Starry Sky Guard.

Thus, the alien legion that had assaulted the solar system aboard the sulfur-based starship was completely annihilated. Of the original force exceeding twenty million personnel carried aboard the starship, in the end, fewer than two hundred thousand aliens survived, counting those who surrendered or were captured. This seemingly vastly unequal war ended in a miraculous victory for the weaker "City of Starlight," a result that astonished everyone.

Although the "City of Starlight" achieved final victory, the random bombardment of Earth and Mars by the starship prior to its destruction caused immense devastation. Mars fared slightly better; aside from massive damage to its environment and industrial infrastructure, personnel casualties were very low.

On Earth, however, the situation was far more severe. To crush the Terrans' will to resist, the aliens had instantly destroyed over a dozen major human cities, resulting in direct casualties exceeding two hundred million. Including subsequent resistance against alien slave-capture operations, Earth suffered up to five hundred million casualties due to the alien attacks. Such catastrophic losses left Earth blanketed in grief, with nearly every family mourning a loss in the incident.

Though the aliens occupied Earth for a short time, under their barbaric rule, the Terrans felt they had fallen into the eighteenth level of hell. Under alien oppression, terrestrial nations were reduced to mere formalities, and society teetered on the brink of chaos due to massive casualties.

It was at this critical juncture that the "City of Starlight" made a high-profile announcement: the "City of Starlight," in conjunction with Mars, would jointly establish the Starry Sky Empire, which would feature an Emperor—Liu Hui, the boss of the "City of Starlight," would become its first Emperor.

This decision by the "City of Starlight" immediately garnered overwhelming support from nearly all its citizens. Liu Hui had saved the "City of Starlight" repeatedly during moments of extreme peril, instilling profound confidence that as long as he remained there, no problem would be insurmountable—especially during a crisis like the alien invasion, Liu Hui was their anchor.

With the massive support secured, Liu Hui finally set aside his worries and appeared on television to announce to the world that the Starry Sky Empire would officially launch on January 1st, 2030. The capital would be established in New Chang'an City on Mars, and the Empire's territory would encompass the entire solar system, with plans to incorporate explored planets later. However, on Earth, Liu Hui would not dissolve existing nations; current national structures and organizations would be retained.

Liu Hui concluded by declaring that the Starry Sky Empire would not only lead all its citizens toward a prosperous life but would also actively maintain peace and stability among Earth's nations and organizations, gradually sharing the fruits of development until all of humanity could truly enter the Age of the Stars.

The founding of the Starry Sky Empire and Liu Hui's proclamation came at the most opportune time. His statement and the Empire's establishment instantly suppressed all destabilizing factors among the world's nations.

The "City of Starlight" had demonstrated formidable combat strength during the battle against the aliens. On Earth, they now had no rivals; no one dared oppose the "City of Starlight" any longer. Earth was now under the protection of the Starry Sky Empire, meaning Earthlings would never again fear alien invasion. Consequently, they supported Liu Hui's ascension as Emperor of the Starry Sky Empire. After all, in the current climate, Liu Hui was the only person capable of stabilizing the situation on Earth.

With the current situation finally clear, those who had previously opposed the imperial system fell into complete silence, tacitly accepting the outcome. To safeguard global stability and development, the emergence of Liu Hui as the Emperor of the Starry Sky Empire was, in fact, what the populace desired.

Following the catastrophic alien invasion, the solar system's situation was rapidly stabilized under the auspices of the immensely powerful Starry Sky Empire. Under the Empire’s guidance, they began the arduous process of mending the scars left by the war, slowly helping Terran humanity to regain its vitality and strength.

At this juncture, Liu Hui began to gradually ease restrictions on technology, allowing nations access to these newly acquired advancements. Once these nations began employing these new technologies, they discovered renewed hope, driving them even closer to the Starry Sky Empire in anticipation of greater assistance. This convergence allowed Liu Hui to pool the wisdom of all humanity to continuously advance technological levels, strengthening the Starry Sky Empire while simultaneously elevating humanity’s overall power. Should another alien threat arise, humanity would finally possess the means to fight back, no longer left utterly helpless.

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Three months after giving birth, Anqi formally returned to the Starry Sky Science Academy to resume her research.

Liu Hui had initially intended for Anqi to take more time off, but the capture of hundreds of thousands of aliens yielded practical scientific knowledge extracted through interrogation. Furthermore, the Starry Sky Empire had been salvaging fragments of alien warships that had become cosmic debris. From this wreckage, they discovered remnants of the primary control optical computer used to pilot these vessels. They immediately set about repairing and restoring these fragments, succeeding in reassembling the main computer. Although the vast majority of data within the optical computer had been lost, they still managed to uncover highly valuable intelligence and technology from it.

Anqi, by nature, was a true science fanatic. Upon learning of these breakthroughs, she could no longer remain idle. After enjoying just three months of motherhood, she entrusted the child to Liu Hui’s mother and returned to the Academy to begin the work of studying and deciphering this alien technology.

The Starry Sky Empire’s technology had already reached a critical threshold; they were tantalizingly close to a technological explosion. However, upon acquiring the alien technology, their progress accelerated dramatically. Things previously considered unimaginable were constantly being created, granting the Starry Sky Empire genuine interstellar travel capabilities.

By this time, even if Liu Hui were suddenly deprived of the Planar Trading Device, the Starry Sky Empire could maintain its momentum of development without collapsing instantly. Liu Hui had successfully established a highly comprehensive platform for integrated technological growth, making the Empire entirely self-sufficient.

Speaking of the Planar Trading Device, Alexander later provided Liu Hui with a significant surprise. Following the massive battle against the Great Elven King, Liu Hui’s casual warning to "be careful" prompted Alexander to discover several ambushes and traps set by the retreating Elven forces during his pursuit.

Alexander immediately turned the tables, utilizing his advanced weaponry and superior troop numbers to annihilate the hidden armies, dealing a devastating blow to the Great Elven King’s forces, rendering them incapable of posing any further threat to Alexander’s Church of Light.

Because of Liu Hui’s advice, Alexander avoided catastrophic losses, deepening his reverence for Liu Hui. He even interpreted the warning as a divine intervention from the God of Light, signaling his own recklessness and preventing a potential disaster.

When Liu Hui learned of this, he felt a distinct pang of awkwardness. He had merely offered a passing remark due to the urgency of the moment; who could have known the Great Elven King would actually set an ambush? What amused him further was that Alexander had begun weaving his own narrative, interpreting Liu Hui’s comment as a calculated maneuver, which only amplified his worship.

However, once the conflict was completely over, Alexander presented Liu Hui with a huge surprise. After defeating the Great Elven King, Alexander acquired vast quantities of rare resources. The items he traded to Liu Hui included not only treasures formerly belonging to the Elven King but also over three hundred God-Grade Magical Beast Cores, finally replenishing the large stock Liu Hui had expended in the fight against the aliens.

What pleased Liu Hui even more was that Alexander handed over the corpses of the Twelve Divine Envoys, who had been slain by the Six-Winged Battle Angels. Upon examination, Liu Hui discovered twelve peculiar crystals within the bodies of these twelve envoys.

Liu Hui scrutinized the smooth, twelve-sided crystals recovered from the envoys, instantly recalling the Godhead of the God of Light he had seen previously. They bore a striking resemblance. The only discernible difference was that the Godhead of the God of Light appeared exceptionally powerful, whereas the crystals found within the envoys seemed distinctly weak, worlds apart from the true Godhead.

If the God of Light’s artifact was a True Godhead, then these crystals found in the Divine Envoys must be Demigodheads. While inferior to a True Godhead, they should possess properties far more mystical than God-Grade Magical Beast Cores. Researching them might uncover earth-shattering secrets. However, given the Starry Sky Empire’s current scientific capabilities, they were certainly not ready to analyze such profound artifacts. Liu Hui could only deposit the twelve Demigodheads and the envoy corpses into his storage space, reserving them for detailed study when conditions were more favorable.

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Watching the thriving Starry Sky Empire evolve into the utopian ideal he envisioned, Liu Hui felt immense joy. His years of tireless striving were finally poised to realize this dream. In the beginning, others had mocked his ambition as unattainable, but after acquiring the Planar Trading Device, he had forcefully redirected the course of history, manufacturing this ideal society.

At this stage, no one dared to question whether Liu Hui could achieve his vision; the evidence was manifest, undeniable. Liu Hui’s ideal was finally coming to fruition.

Just as Liu Hui was basking in satisfaction over his achievements, Anqi sought him out once more, bearing news of monumental importance.

“Liu Hui, by interpreting the residual data from the main cosmic optical computer and cross-referencing it with the testimonies of the captured aliens, we have uncovered everything about them,” Anqi announced.

Liu Hui’s heart quickened, and he immediately inquired, “Where exactly do these aliens originate? Did they send word back that they found us? Will more aliens be arriving?”

Anqi replied, “After compiling intelligence from these aliens, we discovered they belong to a faction called the Great Triangle Alliance. Their leader is someone named Sulfur, a trial disciple from an ancient family within the Alliance. Their expedition here was a response to a distress signal sent by the Land Empire.”

Liu Hui stroked his chin thoughtfully. “A distress signal from the Land Empire? How is that possible?”

Anqi continued, “Our analysis, considering all available factors, suggests that their supposed distress signal from the Land Empire originated from the transmitter we seized on that high-tech mech Anqi mentioned earlier.”

Liu Hui instantly recalled Anqi’s previous concerns about alien contact, never imagining her worries would actually materialize. And the culprit behind it all was that single high-tech mech. He asked, “Does that high-tech mech have some connection to this Land Empire?”

Anqi’s face immediately lit up with excitement. She declared, “Speaking of which, Liu Hui, I must congratulate you. Your luck is simply phenomenal, because you are about to acquire an astonishing treasure…”

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Thanks to book friend: Authentic Fierce Brother for the two chapters of support! RO