Chapter Seventy-Six: The Intruder

"You really do understand me," Luo Yuan tightened his embrace around Jiang Fang's slender waist.

"By the way, you've been out a lot these past few years. Where have you been?" Jiang Fang asked.

"I went to a planet very far from Earth. There are countless geniuses and powerful figures there. To those people, Earth is nothing more than a toy they can knead at will," Luo Yuan replied calmly.

"Is that so? The starry universe... I wish I could see it for myself," Jiang Fang said wistfully.

"Your strength is still too weak right now; it would be too dangerous for you. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you a consciousness intelligence helmet and a hundred million Black Dragon coins. You can log into the cosmic virtual network, meet people from all over the universe, and enter the killing grounds to hone your abilities. When your strength reaches the Stellar level, I'll arrange for you to train on other planets," Luo Yuan thought for a moment before saying.

"Alright, I'll listen to you," Jiang Fang replied, snuggling into Luo Yuan's arms and resting her head happily on his shoulder.

In the years that followed, Luo Yuan spent his days learning and picking up attributes in the virtual universe's killing grounds and duel space, and his nights discussing the philosophy of life with Jiang Fang. His strength improved immensely. Although he was still at the ninth stage of the Stellar level in terms of realm, he had mastered all ten domains to the ninth degree and acquired numerous laws, including the domains and laws of time. According to the four major levels of realm—Foundation, Intent, Domain, World—even among cosmic-level powerhouses, some still lacked domains.

...

In the vast starry sky of the solar system, a saucer-shaped, silvery-gray spaceship approached Earth.

"What a beautiful planet, so blue—a color that stirs the heart."

In the ship's control room, the tall, handsome captain, Bro Nolan Shan, dressed in a silver combat suit, looked deeply satisfied as he gazed at the simulation of the blue planet before him. "It's intoxicating. I love it—yes, I love it! I must have it!" Some of the crew beside him were already howling in excitement, far less poetic than their captain.

Suddenly, an elder frowned and reminded, "But Captain, three years ago, when we accidentally passed through a wormhole, we discovered this planet in the void region already had an owner. Our intrusion violates the Black Dragon Mountain Empire's Constitution. If we're labeled as star pirates, it'll be troublesome."

The handsome captain sneered and said, "How can we leave this void region empty-handed when we've been so fortunate to enter it? Besides, this planet's value is incalculable. After all, it was once claimed by an invincible powerhouse, so it's definitely more valuable than ordinary life planets. This time, in the face of immense profits, any risk is worthwhile. We can first gather information about this planet, then inform the family. Let the family handle the rest. If the owner isn't strong enough... heh heh heh..."

...

In the vast starry sky, the flying saucer-shaped silvery-gray spaceship hovered invisibly in space.

"Captain, after intercepting the confidential network information of this planet, I've collected some data and notified the family," the ship's AI, Atuka, reported.

"This planet's technology and military capabilities are still at the initial stage of 'space civilization,' far from 'cosmic civilization.' The only notable point is... this planet possesses many precious items found in the universe, such as Muya crystals, Black God combat suits, Moyun vines, psychic weapons, and space rings—all obtained from ancient civilization relics. Furthermore, we've learned from the planet's network that there are several thousand foreign powerhouses here, their strength unknown, but estimated to be above the planetary level," Atuka continued rapidly.

"Captain, we've also discovered a special dew on Earth, named 'Evolution Dew' by the locals. Upon identification, it appears to be 'Violet Light Dew' from the universe. And, according to estimates, Earth's stock of Violet Light Dew is enormous—likely hundreds of tons," Atuka added, basing this estimate on the current number of advanced trainees on Earth.

"Violet Light Dew on Earth? Foreign powerhouses?" The handsome captain, sipping his drink, was surprised. "Could the planet's lord be connected to certain cosmic factions? Let's not act rashly yet. Wait for the family's instructions."

"Beep!"

"Captain, there's an incoming call request with a strange ID. The caller is openly displaying their identity—a cosmic-level powerhouse," Atuka announced.

"Poof!" Bro Nolan Shan spat out his drink, jumped to his feet, eyes wide. "Cosmic-level?"

"Connect!" he shouted, then paused. "Wait!"

Bro Nolan Shan took a deep breath, wiped his face, calmed himself, and then said, "Connect the communication."

"Yes, Captain," Atuka responded.

Beep!

A screen materialized on the ship's wall, displaying a middle-aged man with pointed ears, slightly reddish eyes, and extraordinary handsomeness—bearing a resemblance to Bro Nolan Shan.

"Old Patriarch," Bro Nolan Shan bowed respectfully.

"Bro!" The old patriarch, a sixth-stage cosmic-level powerhouse, smiled at him. "You did well. I've just received the ancestor's orders. This planet has little value, but the ancient civilization relics on it are extremely important, significant to him. The ancestor commands you to return. The family will send an elite squad to infiltrate Earth and loot those relics. Even if their presence is exposed later... let the elite squad claim to be 'star pirates.' The Earthlings won't have evidence that they're from the Nolan Shan family."

"Patriarch, won't the Earthlings be suspicious if star pirates appear soon after we leave?" Bro asked.

"Remember!" The old patriarch said coldly, "Empire law is about evidence! Without evidence, even if they know the squad is from our Nolan Shan family, they can't prove it. That means the Earth lord, Luo Yuan, will have no recourse!"

...

At the summit of a cloud-shrouded mountain, clusters of ancient-style palaces stood in rows. In a pavilion among them, Luo Yuan, Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God sat together drinking tea.

"Ah? Big brother, second brother, third brother, Babata just notified me that an alien spaceship's AI was secretly infiltrating Earth's confidential network to gather intelligence. Babata traced it back and found it's a faction called the Nolan Shan family in the universe. They've discovered Earth and plan to send an elite squad to stealthily loot Earth's civilization relics," Luo Feng suddenly said.

"So, they've come at last—three years late. Is it another butterfly effect caused by me? Looks like, when I have the funds, I'll need to install a defense system for the solar system. The alien AI managed to infiltrate from far away, yet Earth couldn't even sense it," Luo Yuan said, setting down his teacup thoughtfully.

"What is their strength?" Luo Yuan asked.

"Three at the stellar level, five at the planetary level. But the Nolan Shan family has a cosmic-level ninth-stage ancestor backing them," Luo Feng replied.

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