Chapter 67

All the members of the Shen family who came to the Interstellar Academy with Shen Qinglan today were severely shocked when they heard the words “Qionghai Flower Stone Galaxy”.

Compared to the Shen family auction that has not yet taken place, the Qionghai Flower Stone Galaxy is the foundation of everything the Shen family owns.

It is the root of the Shen family’s rise to one of the four small families over the years!

It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s the lifeline of the entire Shen family!

After hearing this news, no one present could maintain their composure.

Including Shen Qinglan, who was already in a bad mood today.

The solemnity on Shen Qinglan’s face was almost impossible to conceal. As he locked eyes with Ji Fu across the distance, the hand he had behind him clenched tightly, the veins bulging on the back of his hand.

If it weren’t for being under the scrutiny of live broadcasts, he might have already lost control of his expression.

His secretary at his side looked at him in panic. The Qionghai Flower Stone Galaxy is guarded by super-stellar mechs, and it is the most heavily guarded place in the entire Shen family’s industry.

How could this be possible? How could this happen!?

Under countless gazes, Shen Qinglan’s light brain began to beep frantically.

At this moment, he couldn’t care less about the Interstellar Academy or Ji Fu. He just led all the members of the Shen family and hurriedly left the scene.

After boarding the starship and turning off the live broadcast camera,

Shen Qinglan couldn’t hold back his rage any longer. He stood up furiously and smashed the coffee table in the middle of the room with a single punch.

The room descended into chaos, with the Shen family members in a state of panic.

Shen Qinglan’s uncle quickly stepped forward and said, “Qinglan, what should we do now…”

The Qionghai Stone was their foundation.

The problem with this resource not only threatened the Shen family’s financial prospects but also jeopardized their path to the Alliance and the aristocracy.

Although the galaxy is vast, and there might be other planets with Qionghai Stone deposits, known major families also possess a few small planets with Qionghai Stone.

However, the demand for this resource is enormous.

Currently, the Shen family controls the most crucial and well-nurtured Qionghai Stone vein in the galaxy.

If this vein were destroyed and couldn’t be supplied in the short term, they would be completely driven out of the Alliance’s profit chain.

…They might even face accountability.

Reestablishing such a large Qionghai Stone system and nurturing top-grade Qionghai Stones again would require an unknown amount of time, manpower, and resources.

Shen Qinglan turned back, looking at the panic-stricken faces in the room, and coldly said, “What are you afraid of?”

He had completely shed his gentle and humble exterior, revealing his ferocious inner nature.

They were all in the same boat, and the Shen family wasn’t the only one responsible for protecting and managing the Qionghai Stone system.

If something went wrong, should they bear all the responsibility!?

He wanted to ask the Alliance why they hadn’t caught the people from the Slaughterhouse after all this time.

The need for Qionghai Stones wasn’t limited to the Shen family. Shen Qinglan had an ace up his sleeve, and the higher-ups wouldn’t completely destroy them.

Shen Qinglan took a few deep breaths, but couldn’t calm down. He opened his eyes sharply, his face dark, and said, “Go to the Alliance on the Imperial Star.”

The name “Slaughterhouse” had been around for a while, and the Alliance had always taken it seriously, but they hadn’t found any results despite their efforts.

Now, this incident happened.

A high-level Alliance meeting was convened immediately, and unusually, the highest office, which hadn’t been involved in internal Alliance affairs for a long time, was also invited.

When Fang Yanli entered the room, he received countless heated gazes.

His expression was stern, and he sat down in his seat.

From the beginning of the meeting until its end, Fang Yanli listened expressionlessly as people ranted about the Slaughterhouse.

Three years ago, before the Yun Chi attack, these people weren’t this indignant.

And this time, the Slaughterhouse had only detonated a Qionghai Stone vein.

Fang Yanli’s cold eyes revealed no emotion until the Alliance’s supreme commander called his name.

“…Three years ago, the highest office handled a dangerous figure like Yun Chi very well. Compared to that, the Slaughterhouse isn’t as dangerous.” The supreme commander looked at him and said gravely, “The central bureau will fully cooperate with the Alliance and the interstellar prison to assist you.”

“The highest office is the Alliance’s strongest team and a major defensive wall. We hope you can quickly solve this case and capture the Slaughterhouse members threatening the interstellar citizens.”

The supreme commander’s words brought silence to the room.

Unexpectedly, Fang Yanli didn’t immediately accept the task.

He showed little emotion, simply sitting there, staring at the constantly replaying footage on the screen.

In his prolonged silence, the others exchanged uneasy glances.

The atmosphere grew tense.

After five minutes of stillness, Fang Yanli received a message.

He paused for a moment and opened his light brain.

The message was from his grandfather, the current head of the Fang family, Fang Yukun.

After the military affairs, Fang Yanli had visited the old house several times but hadn’t seen Fang Yukun.

He knew Fang Yukun was displeased with his unilateral actions in taking people from the military.

After several months, this was Fang Yukun’s first initiative to contact him.

The message was simple, instructing him: [The Slaughterhouse case is tricky. The central bureau is overwhelmed. Take on this case.]

Fang Yanli remained silent for a long time before standing up.

As he moved, everyone in the meeting room looked at him.

“Send the Slaughterhouse files to the highest office.” Fang Yanli’s cold expression remained as he left.

Usually, he was respectful to the current supreme commander due to Fang Yukun’s teachings, rarely showing such indifference.

But for now, the highest office was the fastest to solve the case.

The Qionghai Stone affected too many aristocratic interests, and the supreme commander, from an aristocratic family, couldn’t concern himself with Fang Yanli’s attitude.

Hearing him accept, the supreme commander finally relaxed.

If the Slaughterhouse were left unchecked, it might foster a second Yun Chi.

As long as the perpetrators were captured, everything else could be dealt with.

The Alliance police bureau personnel originally responsible for the case hurried to catch up with Fang Yanli, carrying numerous important documents and evidence.

Walking quickly beside Fang Yanli, they asked softly, “Executive Director, we’ve been investigating this case for almost six months and have some leads. I heard you were also involved in part of it last time.”

“Do you have any suspects in mind?”

Fang Yanli stopped in his tracks.

He turned around and met the Alliance official’s gaze with his dark, cold eyes, and said solemnly, “No.”

Not only was the questioner stunned, but even Cheng Hao behind him was momentarily taken aback.

He had thought Fang Yanli would mention Ji Fu.

Once the Alliance personnel had handed over all the questions and left the highest office, Cheng Hao heard Fang Yanli speak again in a cold voice, “Investigate what exactly the Qionghai Stone is used for.”

After the Qionghai Stone incident, many interstellar citizens vaguely sensed the significance behind it.

However, unlike before, the Alliance had sealed off all information about the Qionghai Stone, making it extremely difficult to obtain details. Delving too deeply could result in having one’s account suspended.

Within two days, tens of thousands of accounts across the network were shut down.

This iron-fisted approach silenced the curious, forcing them to watch as the Alliance suppressed the matter.

The suppression was swift and brutal.

Currently, the hottest topic on the entire network was the upcoming joint exams.

The Alliance announced that for the third joint exam, they would send important officials to oversee the examination process.

Additionally, the rewards for this exam were maximized.

Not only would there be abundant high-quality materials, but the top performer of the third joint exam would receive a public honor from the Alliance.

Such honors were usually reserved for those who achieved significant military accomplishments within the corps.

Awarding honors through the joint exam was unprecedented and presented a rare opportunity for the candidates.

The content of the third and fourth joint exams was already more intense than the first two, focusing on survival battles. Coupled with such a prestigious honor, the stakes were higher than ever.

Even before the third joint exam began, the competitive atmosphere was palpable.

Most people’s attention shifted to the upcoming exam.

The Shen family spent a considerable amount on public relations.

By the day of the third joint exam, Ji Fu couldn’t find any information about the Qionghai Stone on the star network.

Along with the disappearance of this information, the Alliance initiated a thorough investigation.

The sweep covered every star system, leaving no stone unturned.

Even the small planet where they were hiding was searched multiple times.

Ji Fu’s defense system was impenetrable to ordinary people.

Qin Chu Yue had buried everything in their base underground, making it impossible for anyone to find them without deploying super-star-class mechas.

However, Qin Chu Yue remained cautious. Canglan was continuously receiving treatment, and during her free time, she usually went out to bask in the moonlight. Recently, she hadn’t stepped outside at all.

“It seems the Qionghai Stone really hit their vital point, which is why they’re searching so desperately,” Ji Fu remarked, standing in the plaza for the third joint exam, with Qin Chu Yue’s cold, mocking voice in her ear.

“The Alliance has tried hard to suppress the news, but many people on the major forums are still curious about the Qionghai Stone,” Qin Chu Yue paused. “Actually, this might be a good opportunity. Why don’t we just reveal the talent extraction process?”

Ji Fu, casually sucking on a milk pouch, typed: 【Not for now】

The lessons from three years ago were enough.

Currently, her talent level was only S+, Canglan’s recovery was slow, and they still didn’t have a decent super-star-class mecha.

Releasing information about the talent extraction without proper dissemination and action would be pointless.

The Alliance could suppress the news just like they did with the Qionghai Stone, finding scapegoats to downplay the issue.

Releasing the information now would mean throwing away their most crucial asset.

They couldn’t afford to rush.

In all the actions taken by the Slaughterhouse so far, Ji Fu had left evidence of talent extraction, but the main culprits, methods, and other victims like her were still unknown.

A complete narrative needed to be constructed.

“Yes, the destruction of the largest Qionghai Stone system means the stabilizers for those fakes are gone. The short-term effects may not be obvious, but over time, more fakes will reveal themselves. When that happens, it’ll be easier for us to act.”

Ji Fu took a sip of milk and turned off the light brain.

At that moment, the announcement for the start of the third joint exam was finally made.

Unlike the first two exams, the large plaza was now half-empty, mostly filled with students from the Interstellar Academy.

Everyone knew that from the third exam onwards, it would focus more on small team battles or individual combat.

The Interstellar Academy had already achieved unprecedented success in the group battles, and every participating student had received substantial rewards. Many were already satisfied.

After the third exam started, many situations would be beyond their control.

The announcement outlined the rules for the third joint exam:

“This exam will use random placement. Each candidate will be scattered across twenty-six small planets for a one-week survival competition.”

“Note that during this week, no one is allowed to leave their assigned test site. The test sites are separated by interstellar distances. After a week, the barriers will open, allowing access between all test sites.”

“At that time, only 25 candidates who are still ‘surviving’ will advance to the fourth survival test.”

Out of the 71 students who had survived the group battles, only 25 would move on.

Eliminating 46 participants is a considerably high ratio.

The exam randomly assigned the students’ ID tags to determine their placement.

Where they would be sent and with whom was highly uncertain.

Ji Fu followed all the candidates onto the examination starship.

Under the live broadcast camera, Shen Qinglan, who had repeatedly suffered setbacks and had already publicly apologized to Ji Fu, no longer paid much attention to her.

Once the survival battle began, the super-star-level candidates from any school became the center of attention.

No matter the situation, teaming up with a super-star-level candidate significantly increased the chances of survival.

Even without the constraint of school numbers, Shen Qinglan remained one of the top candidates in the exam.

Both the viewers and the examiners knew that the survival battle was where the super-star-level candidates would truly shine.

Upon entering the starship, Ji Fu remained calm.

This time, there was no restriction on carrying items. She sat quietly on the side, continuously taking out snacks from her small backpack.

When her number was finally called, she was still leisurely eating toast.

The next second, she felt a dizzying whirl.

The ID tag she carried became scorching hot.

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she reopened them, she was already standing on the ground.

Beside her was her small backpack.

With the toast still in her mouth, she slung her only bag over her shoulder and looked around.

The surroundings appeared quite normal, with ordinary greenery and a clear, bright stream nearby.

It was a picturesque scene, untouched by black holes or mutations.

Ji Fu finished her toast and approached the stream to wash her hands.

She had barely started when a loud noise startled her. Looking up, she saw a very familiar mecha.

She paused slightly and calmly greeted the person inside, “Hi.”

Wan Feng: …

The live stream viewers were amused.

【What luck, meeting one of her own right away.】

【Luck? You might want to take another look.】

Just as this comment floated by, the viewers in the live stream saw the usually handsome and calm Wan Feng’s expression change repeatedly. After recognizing Ji Fu, he immediately pressed the communication button and shouted:

“Run!!”

As he spoke, he activated the mecha’s berserk mode and slid frantically toward Ji Fu.

He simultaneously shot out a hook, which Ji Fu’s right arm, now mechanical, caught instantly.

In a semi-mechanized state, she quickly climbed into Wan Feng’s mecha cockpit.

She had split her mech, Luna, with Cang Lan, keeping half for herself.

Even with only half of Luna, it was still a complete wearable mech, though it had fewer transformation options.

However, she didn’t immediately deploy Luna. Instead, she entered Wan Feng’s mecha cockpit.

Sitting down, she even took a sip of nutrient solution before looking back unhurriedly.

What she saw was a massive creature.

It was partially hidden in the forest, but Wan Feng’s control panel provided detailed information.

【Half-Howling King Tian Ape, Super-Star Level, Ferocity Level: Five Stars】

The viewers were puzzled.

【Five stars?!】

【…A few years ago, I saw a four-star ferocity A-level beast. It could tear apart A-level mechas and chew them into pieces. This five-star super-star-level beast…】

No wonder someone said to take another look.

This wasn’t luck; it was downright misfortune.

In the meantime, most candidates had already reached the exam area and encountered powerful beasts.

The viewers summarized:

【No wonder the Alliance was so generous this time. This joint exam is hellish.】

There were several super-star-level beasts.

The one Ji Fu and Wan Feng encountered was moderately powerful compared to the others.

The strongest one was on another planet, a super-star+ level beast.

But that planet had two super-star-level mecha pilots.

Zhou Xingyu’s exam area also had a super-star-level beast. Although he hadn’t fully recovered, he had a star-level mecha pilot with him.

Han Siyi encountered Shen Qinglan, and their exam area wasn’t too difficult.

It seemed manageable for most, except for Ji Fu and Wan Feng.

Both had S+ talent. Ji Fu could pilot a star-level mecha, while Wan Feng used only an S+ level mecha.

How could two S+ talents deal with a five-star ferocity super-star-level beast?

【Among all the super-star-level beasts, this one is the most ferocious.】

Ferocity indicates the beast’s killing nature. Not all beasts are highly aggressive. For instance, the blazing sea starfish that Shen Qinglan painstakingly found was a low-attack type.

It was rare and incredibly fast, making it extremely difficult to capture.

But the Half-Howling  Jingtian Ape wasn’t the type to eat people; its ferocity meant it would crush them into pieces.

When Ji Fu looked back, she saw the ape’s half-mechanized body.

The ape looked savage, with red eyes, sharp fangs, and massive fists.

The most striking feature was its left side, which had a metallic sheen. The left arm was fully mechanized.

The beast raised its left arm and struck with great force—

Boom!

Amidst the earth-shaking roar, the vegetation where she had been standing was completely blasted to pieces.

It had immense explosive power and terrifying mechanical strength.

Ji Fu paused slightly, then gulped down the nutrient solution in her hand.

Wan Feng was fully focused on piloting the mecha.

His mecha was only S+ grade, but fortunately, it had been modified for high speed.

The flying speed was exceptionally fast, and combined with the berserk mode, it narrowly managed to outpace the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape.

But the giant beast’s heavy punch shattered everything around it.

The pursuit was getting faster and faster.

It was almost within reach of Wan Feng’s mecha.

At such a perilous distance, Wan Feng couldn’t afford any distraction and asked Ji Fu, “Do we stand a chance?”

Ji Fu paused before replying, “Absolutely…”

“No.”

【?】

【Laughing out loud, I thought she was going to say something inspiring.】

【This isn’t like when you intentionally activated the super-star-level mutant plant.】

Mutant plants are more restricted and not as strong as mutant beasts of the same level.

This Half-Howling King Tian Ape, however, was beyond comparison just by talent level.

Its mutation level was extremely high.

Ji Fu guessed that most of the beast’s organs were already mechanized.

Once organs are mechanized, killing the beast becomes exponentially more difficult.

With her current ability to utilize 75% of her star-level mecha, plus Wan Feng’s S+ mecha, and an additional S+ drone mech Flame…

Ji Fu made a small summary: “It’s not exactly 99 to 1, more like… total annihilation.”

【Thanks, you’re quite humorous.】

Wan Feng: …

He was momentarily amused by Ji Fu’s words. Just as he was about to take out the heavy weapon from the mecha and launch a surprise attack on the Half-Howling King Tian Ape, Ji Fu asked, “Does your mecha have a diving system?”

Mechas are designed to handle various situations, so most mecha pilots install diving systems.

Wan Feng: “Yes.”

Ji Fu linked to his mecha and sent a map to his control panel.

The map marked a location: a large lake.

“Go here, quickly.”

Wan Feng didn’t hesitate, he maximized the controls and sped towards the lake, leading the frenzied Half-Howling Jingtian Ape behind them.

The lake was huge, surrounded by trees emitting a faint, cold glow.

The mecha whizzed over the lake’s surface, and Ji Fu said, “Jump in.”

Wan Feng understood immediately and submerged into the lake without hesitation.

Splash!

The large mecha plunged into the lake, creating a massive splash.

As water splashed, the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape arrived.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the ferocious beast bared its bloodthirsty teeth at the mecha at the lake’s bottom but didn’t take a step forward.

Wan Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

【Right, most monkeys don’t go into the water, this beast is also a primate, probably afraid of water too?】

Wan Feng asked, “Will it stop chasing us?”

“No.” Ji Fu shook her head slowly. She pointed at the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape and said calmly, “With such a high degree of mutation and extensive mechanization, there’s no way it’s afraid of water.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape leaped into the lake with a splash.

The viewers were all speechless: …

Well then, if she knew, why did they jump in here?

Before anyone could voice their thoughts, they saw Ji Fu quickly don her mecha.

She turned to remind Wan Feng, “Hold your breath and prevent any water from entering the mecha.”

With that, she swiftly exited the cockpit.

The moment she got out, the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape went berserk, diving towards her in the water.

Ji Fu raised her hands, releasing countless pink bubbles before the beast could reach her.

In the clear lake water, bubbles overflowed, even creating pink foam on the surface.

The scene looked particularly beautiful and captivating.

… If one ignored the ferocious and brutal beast.

Strangely, as the pink bubbles surged towards the Half-Howling King Tian Ape, the beast didn’t dodge but directly embraced them.

Amidst the pink bubbles, the beast’s expression was indescribable.

Wan Feng frowned slightly and asked, “What’s happening to it?”

Ji Fu continued releasing bubbles and said calmly, “Nothing much.”

These pink bubbles weren’t any special agent, just an aroma that primates couldn’t resist… mixed with high-concentration medical alcohol.

Yes, she lured the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape here to make it drunk.

A highly mutated, mechanized body might resist any toxin or drug.

But no matter how mutated, it still needed to eat.

This thing was impervious to weapons, but it had a natural inclination towards food.

“Burp!” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the Half-Howling Jingtian Ape let out a heavy burp and, in front of everyone, closed its eyes peacefully.

“It’s just drunk.”