Chapter 323: You Can Even Change Homes Over This?
On the way to rendezvous with the Rebirth Empire and the Supernova Legion reinforcements, Bai Fu spent time getting a detailed understanding of Titan Industries’ current situation.
According to authoritative media reports, people from the Apostles’ Holy City had suddenly appeared in Titan Industries’ Yanxu Star Sector four hours earlier.
Their first target had been the local Industrial Assembly Center in the Yanxu Star Sector.
Before launching the formal assault, Corona — who had defected to the Apostles’ Holy City — had carried out large-scale data interference against the local Industrial Assembly Center.
Therefore, it was not until the Apostles’ Holy City forces showed themselves that Titan Industries realized they had been surrounded.
It had been an extremely brutal, one-sided slaughter.
Titan Industries’ management in the Yanxu Star Sector had been almost entirely wiped out, and the entire local Industrial Assembly Center had been reduced to ash in the attack.
But that was not the worst thing the Titan Industries’ executives could not accept.
What hurt them most was that a Transcendent had been brutally slain in the fierce fighting.
Even for a cosmic-level civilization, the death of a Transcendent was a huge loss — let alone that this Transcendent had been personally cultivated by Titan Industries and was exceptionally loyal.
So, upon receiving the news, Titan Industries immediately sent people to the Yanxu Star Sector, swearing to avenge those who had died there.
Unfortunately, they had underestimated the Apostles’ Holy City.
They had never expected that after learning Titan Industries was mounting a large-scale counterattack, the Apostles’ Holy City would not flee but would instead ambush them halfway.
Luckily, this time Titan Industries had brought several cosmic treasures with them, including illusion artifacts like the Home of the Lost, divine defensive gear such as the Titan Holy Shield, and — crucially — Rufas, who was terrifyingly strong in true ability and skilled at spatial blockade and had broken with the Apostles’ Holy City early on; because of that ambush, Titan Industries had avoided catastrophic losses, losing only one-third of their ships and a single Dominator.
“Oh my, this is ruthless — no wonder Titan Industries urgently summoned the Empire and the Supernova Legion as allies.”
Bai Fu’s eyelids twitched.
Even someone as stalwart as she had taken more than a decade to advance to Dominator.
Titan Industries had lost a Dominator and a Transcendent in a single day — how painful was that?
And that was only the Apostles’ Holy City’s vanguard. If the Apostles’ Holy City brought in more Transcendents, Titan Industries — despite her fortifications — probably could not hold out for long; in both quantity and quality, the gap between the top forces on both sides was simply too large.
Once Titan Industries fell, the other two cosmic-level civilizations would likely soon follow.
Without those three allies…
“At that point, wouldn’t I have to single-handedly resist both the Apostles’ Holy City and the First Protocol — two villainous organizations — at the same time?”
No way she could play that.
Bai Fu immediately opened the game map and searched for Cade’s recent movement track.
Soon she locked onto a bright point on the map.
“Appearing here all of a sudden… it seems the Apostles’ Holy City found a route that led directly to the area near Titan Industries.”
For the three cosmic-level civilizations, launching an attack from the primary space and destroying a jump route located in hyperspace was not impossible.
The key issue was speed.
If it dragged on, the Apostles’ Holy City’s reinforcements would arrive, and it would be very difficult to destroy that route.
……
“Where did you get this moving planet?”
At Titan Industries’ temporary assembly point in the Shuoxue Star Sector, looking out at the Esper Garden that hung outside the planet like a huge moon, the Imperial high collaborator and head of the Mechfire Sect, Chongxiao, could not help but ask.
Although he had long known from Dmitri that Bai Fu had obtained something valuable, he still found himself shocked.
Bai Fu was very rich.
But as far as he knew, her funds alone should not have turned into such a war instrument.
They were not the only ones surprised: Dmitri, the Sword Emperor, the Master of the Whirlpool, the Devouring Fist Goruga, and Zeph — the Supernova Legion’s longtime partner who had previously clashed with her at the Ethereal Research Society — were all taken aback.
The one who reacted the most was actually Zeph.
Good grief, this was something else.
Look at himself, and then look at Bai Fu.
Years had passed, and his strength had improved very little, while Bai Fu could already chat casually with Transcendents like Dmitri and Chongxiao.
The disparity between people was really huge.
Bai Fu was this: (￣▽￣)b
He was this: (￣_￣)p
Fortunately, Bai Fu was benevolent and had not targeted him for his earlier offense.
“Sigh, I’m such a clown.”
Zeph wished he could crawl into a crack in the ground.
This shameful feeling did not fade until Bai Fu began to explain.
“This was grabbed from the First Protocol.”
Bai Fu did not hide that she had gone to the Esper Garden, but she did not say she had gone for an Esper evolution tree; she only said she had gone to deal with the Lightless One and others, and had casually taken a planet on the way back.
Holy cow, talk about luck!
People said the Apostles were blessed by the gods, but with Bai Fu’s status… she might as well be the gods’ illegitimate daughter!
Tch.
Watching Chongxiao and the others’ astonished expressions, the Vow Master could not help but shake his head.
You all…
were young.
If you were surprised by this, you should’ve seen how I looked when Bai Fu revealed this right in front of me.
Amid the commotion, everyone who had been notified had arrived, and an emergency meeting began.
The meeting was chaired remotely by Delano, chairman of Titan Industries.
He first introduced the difficulties Titan Industries faced, then pointed out that the immediate task was to find out how the Apostles’ Holy City forces had arrived and to block that route as quickly as possible.
Thunderblade — who had been ambushed by Bai Fu before — stood up: “In my view, the greatest breakthrough point right now lies with Cade. If we can capture him, we can figure out the Apostles’ Holy City’s true situation. But catching him won’t be easy: he knows his own strength is average, so he has been hiding in the Apostles’ Holy City’s Icon-class Mothership. I wonder if anyone has a way to catch him.”
Tianhuo Sanctification of the Supernova Legion frowned: “I’ve contacted the Apostles’ Holy City’s Icon-class Mothership in the Tub system; its shield strength is no weaker than your Titan Holy Shield. Therefore, charging directly into the Icon-class Mothership to capture Cade would probably cost a great deal. The best method is to lure Cade out.
“No mistake in what you said, but…” Metal Lord Zero shook his head. “We’ve already discussed it on our side, and for now, we can’t think of a way to lure Cade out.”
As it spoke, it turned its head toward the Empire’s side.
“Annihilation, what about you? I see your expression looks quite relaxed?”
Dmitri shrugged. “I don’t have any solution.”
Then why are you putting on an act!
Zero was speechless.
At this moment, Dmitri said: “But Bai Fu has a way.”
Hm?
In an instant, over twenty gazes all fell upon Bai Fu.
Did she really have a way?
Bai Fu stood up.
In truth, she did not want to appear so outstanding either.
Hiding her brilliance was a very exhausting task.
If possible, she would have preferred to be known in a way of “being famous for kindness rather than being so strong that she drew suspicion” and quietly make a fortune.
But now she had already become mortal enemies with both the Apostles’ Holy City and the First Protocol. Hiding was meaningless, so it was better to strike hard and resolve the crisis before her eyes.
Bai Fu tapped away on her communicator, and a few seconds later, a virtual screen popped up in midair.
On the screen was displayed a starsea map, and the most eye-catching mark on it was a shining golden light point.
“The Apostles’ Holy City forces came out from here. They departed from the Apostles’ Holy City and jumped directly to this point.”
Hiss—
Even Dmitri, who had already known Bai Fu had a solution, could not help but let out a gasp.
Just now when Dmitri said Bai Fu had a way, everyone had wondered what kind of method she had.
Some special skill to directly teleport into the Icon-class Mothership to capture Cade?
Some special trick to force Cade to leave the Icon-class Mothership?
They had thought of many possibilities, but none expected Bai Fu to skip straight past capturing Cade and instead lay out the Apostles’ Holy City’s route!
That way they no longer needed to discuss how to locate the Apostles’ Holy City’s forces.
If Bai Fu was right, then all they had to do was launch an attack on that point, and the Apostles’ Holy City would reveal themselves.
How had she managed this?
Precognition?
Or had Bai Fu planted a spy within the Apostles’ Holy City?
Whatever the truth, they all had to reevaluate Bai Fu’s strength once more!
“What a terrifying woman.”
Delano murmured in his heart.
At this moment, he no longer held any obsession over Titan Industries’ past failed ambush against Bai Fu.
If an ambush on someone this ruthless could succeed, that would be the real miracle!
At the same time, he was glad that Bai Fu had not fallen then. Otherwise, facing today’s sudden assault from the Apostles’ Holy City, the pressure they bore would have been several times greater.
“I’ll arrange people to confirm immediately! As for you all—”
“Let us set out as well. First head to the Yanxu Star Sector, time waits for no one. Every moment we delay, the danger grows.”
After discussing, the group quickly ended the meeting, each boarding their ships and rushing toward the Yanxu Star Sector.
The terminus of the Apostles’ Holy City’s newly opened route was only over ten million light years away from the Yanxu Star Sector. Soon, Titan Industries had scouted out the situation.
“The undying who went ahead to scout have sent word. They truly did see a temporary Stargate there, along with a black warship.”
“Then there’s nothing to hesitate about. Set off!”
This was a clash between Transcendents, not a battle of billions of warships. Therefore, there was no need to consider overly complex tactics.
Adjust your state, take your weapons and equipment, bring sufficient items, and charge straight in.
If this strike succeeded and the Apostles’ Holy City’s route was cut off, then the three cosmic-level civilizations would still have time to prepare for all-out war against them.
If this strike failed and the Apostles’ Holy City completely established themselves, then the three cosmic-level civilizations would all face the danger of annihilation — after all, lurking behind them was still the First Protocol, that mysterious organization watching like a tiger eyeing its prey.
……
“‘Supreme Apostle, the Tribunal’s followers have successfully arrived at Titan Industries and have launched their attack. Now the eyes of everyone in the Explored Universe have been drawn to them.’”
The assistant reported respectfully.
The Supreme Apostle nodded calmly: “If that is the case, have them turn their guns and give the Rebirth Empire a surprise. Also notify Cathedral Number Three and have them go assist the Tribunal.”
“‘Yes.’”
The assistant hurried away.
The Supreme Apostle narrowed his eyes. After opening the new route to the Explored Universe, the reason he had not immediately sent a large number of Transcendents to shock the three cosmic-level civilizations was mainly because of two concerns.
The first concern, of course, was the fear that if he sent everyone out, fires might break out at home.
He was well aware that there were many people in the Apostles’ Holy City who were dissatisfied with him.
Recently some Apostles had set their sights on the Apostles’ Holy City, so he dared not relax his vigilance.
The second concern was the mysterious organization that had suddenly appeared in the Explored Universe.
From the intelligence he had gathered so far, that mysterious organization was very powerful. He feared going all in and ending up with nothing, instead dressing that mysterious organization in a wedding robe.
For these two reasons, he issued a more cautious order—
“Stir the waters, create chaos in the Explored Universe, and force that mysterious organization to act first!”
As for what to do after stirring the waters, his plan was to seal the new route for now, continue a steady advance from the Tub system, wait until that mysterious organization was sufficiently exposed, then reopen the new route and wipe them and the three cosmic-level civilizations out in one sweep.
The Supreme Apostle’s order was swiftly transmitted.
Six Transcendents from Cathedral Number Three mobilized at full strength. The Tribunal and Council of Ten members—who had ambushed Titan Industries and were temporarily hiding—also turned their ships and headed straight for the Rebirth Empire’s Crown Star Sector.
“Ha ha, those idiots of the Rebirth Empire will never suspect that we actually intend to target them. Right now they’re probably still arguing with Titan Industries’ fools about how to find us.”
The Saint chuckled.
He held deep hatred for the Rebirth Empire; this time he intended to give them a lesson. If possible, he wanted to truly destroy the Rebirth Empire’s host radiance, thereby avenging the two times the Explored Universe had been beaten by the Rebirth Empire.
Beside him, Cade was even more excited.
After years of laying low, he could finally take revenge on Bai Fu’s birth!
“Wait and see, Bai Fu. I will become your nightmare; even thinking of my name in your dreams will make you break out in a cold sweat!”
Hehe, ha ha, hee hee!
Cade kept rubbing his right fist.
Now was the fantasy moment!
He was imagining, blow by blow, smashing Anya, Yulia, and those Bai Fu cared about into meat paste.
Then, the next second—
Beep beep!
The communicator on the ship suddenly rang.
The Tribunal Chief pressed the connect button.
A terrified and urgent voice came through the communicator.
“‘Bad news! The temporary Stargate is under attack! Leading them are the three cosmic-level civilizations, and… yes, Bai Fu! It’s Bai Fu—Bai Fu is here!’”
As if someone had suddenly pressed a time-stop button, everyone aboard the ship froze instantly.
No—why had this battle somehow turned into a classic home-changing swap halfway through?
“‘Return—quickly return to assist!’”
The Tribunal Chief reacted first and shouted.
The Saint and Cade did not shout, but they were even more excited than the Tribunal Chief.
Bai Fu!
It was her!
It was her!
It was her again!
“‘Could you please hurry up and die already?!’”