“This… this is not even the same level.”
Luo Feng could not help feeling panic.
After infiltrating the adventurers’ spacecraft intelligence system, they discovered the following information:
For the Nolandshan Family’s conquest of Earth, a small spacecraft had been sent as the advance force, while the Nolandshan Family fleet was the main force.
The fleet consisted of two warships.
Leading the forces aboard them was Pula, a direct disciple of the Nolandshan Family Patriarch, assisted by seven other direct disciples.
Accompanying these eight direct disciples were more than thirty Noland Guards.
Direct disciples of the patriarch held extremely prestigious status and had to be at least Star Level Ninth Stage to qualify.
The Noland Guards were the family’s elite warriors. Every one of them was precious and possessed Star Level Ninth Stage strength.
More than forty Star Level Ninth Stage experts.
There were even more at Star Level Eighth Stage, Seventh Stage, and lower.
According to estimates made by Brol Nolandshan’s intelligent optical computer, Atuka, there were around one thousand Star Level experts aboard the two warships, along with more than ten thousand Planetary Level fighters.
“A single Star Level Ninth Stage expert could sweep across Earth. This time there are more than forty of them!”
Luo Feng’s face turned grim.
“This is very troublesome.”
Thunder God’s eyes flashed like lightning.
“More than forty Star Level Ninth Stage experts leading around a thousand Star Level fighters and over ten thousand Planetary Level warriors. How are we supposed to fight that? We simply can’t. Unless we have a Universe Level expert, we have no chance at all. But where would we find a Universe Level expert?”
Luo Feng clenched his teeth anxiously.
A Universe Level expert?
Given another year or two, his Golden Horned Beast body could reach the Universe Level.
But the Nolandshan Family fleet would arrive in only three months.
“Three months. Only three months left.”
Luo Feng muttered softly.
Hong, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
“Found something?” Thunder God looked towards him.
Luo Feng also turned to look.
“Yes.”
Hong nodded, his expression even more serious.
“The information is easy to find on the Carlo Empire’s network.”
“The Nolandshan Family was established 81,066 years ago by the Universe Level expert Nolandshan himself. He was the first patriarch, and his name became the family’s surname.”
“Nolandshan possessed extraordinary talent and comprehension. After reaching the Universe Level, he accepted many disciples.”
“Today, Nolandshan himself is at Universe Level Ninth Stage. He has numerous disciples and is exceptionally skilled at teaching them. Six of his disciples have reached the Universe Level.”
“Among those six, two are members of the Nolandshan Family itself. They served respectively as the second patriarch and the current patriarch, who is the third.”
“What?”
Luo Feng was shocked.
He knew that having a powerful teacher increased the chances of producing Universe Level experts.
But for the Nolandshan Family to have seven Universe Level experts, including its founder, was astonishing.
“How are we supposed to fight this?”
Thunder God was growing increasingly anxious.
“The Nolandshan Family is the third most powerful family in the Carlo Empire,” Hong explained.
“The Carlo Empire is an elementary civilisation nation of the universe and one of the more than five hundred subordinate nations of the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. However, it ranks among the top three of those subordinate nations.”
“The strongest family in the Carlo Empire is the imperial Carlo Family. The strongest member of the royal family is a Domain Lord.”
“The second most powerful family is the Weidi Family.”
Luo Feng’s heart stirred.
The Weidi Family?
His friend from Qiu Long Planet, Gao Sheng Weidi, had mentioned Carlo Coins before.
Was this Weidi Family the same family?
Yet Gao Sheng had once claimed there was nobody on Qiu Long Planet he dared not offend.
Someone who could say that should not belong merely to a family from an elementary civilisation nation.
Perhaps Gao Sheng Weidi belonged to a different Weidi Family.
“The Weidi Family is a commercial family whose ancestral home happens to be in the Carlo Empire,” Hong continued.
“Most of its power is now concentrated within the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and even extends into the Ganwu Universe Nation.”
“Its overall strength exceeds that of the entire Carlo Empire.”
“The branch remaining in the Carlo Empire is merely its ancestral home, where only a dozen or so Universe Level experts remain.”
“The third great family of the Carlo Empire is the Nolandshan Family.”
“Because Nolandshan successfully trained six Universe Level disciples, his reputation is immense, attracting many followers.”
“After tens of thousands of years of development, the family now controls more than one thousand life planets.”
“The elite Noland Guards are known as the Eight Thousand Noland Guards, meaning there are at least eight thousand Star Level Ninth Stage warriors.”
“The most terrifying person is Nolandshan himself.”
“Nolandshan is highly famous throughout the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and possesses extremely powerful combat ability.”
Luo Feng felt a sense of helplessness.
Facing such a colossal family, resistance seemed impossible.
Eight thousand Noland Guards.
Seven Universe Level experts.
“What should we do?”
“In only three months, my Golden Horned Beast body cannot possibly reach the Universe Level.”
Luo Feng thought rapidly.
“Become the Lord of Earth?”
“Then I must reach Star Level within three months and obtain the bank account left behind by my teacher before I can purchase Earth.”
When discovering an ownerless planet, there were three possible choices.
First, claim the reward and gain no further benefits. In that case, Luo Feng would have no say in Earth’s future.
Second, pay money to become the Lord of Earth. However, the Black Dragon Mountain Empire would retain the right to impose import and export tariffs.
Third, purchase the planet outright and obtain complete ownership and authority.
The first option was unacceptable.
If he chose it, humanity’s fate would no longer be guaranteed.
“I can only find a way to reach Star Level as quickly as possible.”
Luo Feng gritted his teeth.
“With the Azure Wave Marrow combined with Mu Ya Crystals, three months… there is still a possibility.”
“Third Brother, the leaders of the various nations have almost all arrived at the War God Palace. Let’s enter virtual space.”
“Alright.”
“Let’s go.”
Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God each entered their personal cultivation rooms and connected to the virtual space of the War God Palace.
For countless years, humanity had never truly come into contact with the civilisations of the universe.
Now, a powerful family from a cosmic nation intended to conquer and control Earth.
When Luo Feng and the others revealed the enemy’s strength, Earth’s leadership became anxious, confused, and alarmed.
What could they do?
Fortunately, these leaders truly were Earth’s elite.
After extensive discussion, they formulated a detailed plan.
…
On the castle rooftop.
Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God stood overlooking the Earth.
“We have no choice.”
Hong spoke softly.
“Luo Feng, you weren’t lying to us? There really is such a bank account?”
Thunder God looked at him.
“Yes. But I must reach Star Level before I can gain access to it.”
Luo Feng gazed at the endless flow of people in the distant streets.
The matter of obtaining a bank account after reaching Star Level had only been revealed to his wife, Hong, and Thunder God.
Nobody else knew.
“We have to gamble. There’s no other choice.”
Thunder God said.
“We gamble.”
Hong agreed in a low voice.
“Yes.”
Luo Feng nodded.
“We gamble.”
“If I reach Star Level within three months, everything will be fine.”
“If I fail…”
“Then we will submit the samples and data to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire and claim the reward of one hundred billion Black Dragon Coins.”
“Earth’s ownership will belong to the Black Dragon Mountain Empire. At least then the Nolandshan Family would not dare seize it.”
Luo Feng continued.
“Even if the Black Dragon Mountain Empire decides to take control of Earth, it would still require more than two years of interstellar travel after passing through the wormhole.”
“During those two years, I can use spacecraft to secretly relocate humanity.”
That was the plan.
A twofold preparation.
Success meant becoming the Lord of Earth.
Failure meant carrying out a grand escape, relocating humanity over the course of more than two years.
Of course, moving nearly seven billion people would be an incredibly difficult and painful undertaking.
Luo Feng would never choose that option unless there was absolutely no alternative.
…
At around three o’clock that afternoon.
Thunder God’s daughter, Hong’s children, Luo Feng’s relatives, and many of Earth’s senior leaders gathered at the castle.
“Be careful on those distant planets.”
“The hopes of countless people on Earth rest with you.”
“Good luck.”
Amid the expectations and encouragement of everyone present, Luo Feng kissed his wife and children goodbye.
Then he and Hong and Thunder God flew towards the Black Dragon spacecraft hovering overhead.
“Dad, come back soon.”
“Dad!”
The two children, holding Xu Xin’s hands, shouted loudly.
“I will.”
Luo Feng replied.
The three of them entered through the spacecraft hatch.
Clang!
The hatch closed.
The Black Dragon spacecraft rapidly ascended into the sky, carrying humanity’s hopes away from Earth.
Of Earth’s nearly seven billion inhabitants, the vast majority never realised that beneath their peaceful lives, three men had already departed into the vast universe in search of a sliver of hope for all humanity.
Inside the spacecraft’s control room, the external simulation display was set to one hundred percent.
Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God turned to look at the beautiful blue planet receding behind them.
“Babata.”
Luo Feng’s voice was cold and determined.
“Accelerate. Prepare for universe travel. Our first destination, Bailan Planet.”
…
Carrying Earth’s three strongest experts, the Black Dragon spacecraft began its journey through the universe.
The last time, Luo Feng had travelled alone to broaden his horizons and purchase metals.
This time, there were three of them.
And they travelled for the hope of humanity itself.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the vast starry sky not far from Earth.
Two enormous grey warships travelled one behind the other.
Both shared a similar flattened shape and measured more than six thousand metres in length.
They moved through space like two blurred streams of light.
Inside the leading warship.
Within the control room.
A handsome young man who resembled Brol Nolandshan sat beside three other men.
“What’s going on?” the handsome youth frowned.
“We still can’t establish contact?”
“No.”
The dark skinned man nodded.
A trace of hostility flashed through the handsome youth’s eyes.
“This Brol. The Elder Patriarch promised him the position of Lifetime Elder after this mission. He already thinks he stands above the rest of us.”
“He refuses to share even a single detail about that planet.”
“Quite ruthless.”
“We invited him to communicate, and he wouldn’t even answer.”
Another handsome young man spoke through gritted teeth.
“Pula, I think we should…”
He made a slicing gesture with his hand.
The other two were startled.
Pula shook his head slightly.
“Don’t act recklessly. The family’s affairs come first.”
“In another three months we’ll reach that planet anyway.”
“According to the Elder Patriarch, there is likely a tremendous treasure hidden there.”