Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

The Insect Race’s biological spaceships spread across the star system and the vast psychic wave residuals are undeniably real.

Even with the rapid multiplication rate of the Insect Race, such terrifying losses in an instant are unimaginable for anyone assuming it’s an act to disguise identities.

Therefore, most people believed that the possibility of An Wuping and Chen Ming staging this themselves further decreased after receiving the news.

After all, with such formidable power, it’s enough to simply state or even resort to violence; there’s no need for such self-sabotaging behavior.

At the moment.

In the capital star system of the Empire.

Inside a building on a certain planet.

Minister Lu from the Spiritual Ability Population Census Department ended a video call with Minister Hou from the Audan Star Realm. His face looked quite displeased.

He pulled up An Wuping’s data once again, watching it repeatedly.

Suddenly.

He threw the data violently onto the ground, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, then extinguished the nearly burned-out butt in the ashtray before lighting another.

But doing so failed to relieve the pressure in his mind.

He questioned himself, why hadn’t he noticed how similar An Wuping and Chen Ming were before?

Both seemed so easygoing, quietly going about their own business, making people believe they were soft and easily manipulated.

Yet, when someone truly provoked them, they’d find themselves in enormous trouble.

Last time, it was the Fourteenth Legion that offended Chen Ming, and eventually, the legion commander forcibly resolved the issue.

And this time, those who offended An Wuping... seemed to be him.

Meanwhile, at the Pirate Space Station.

Inside a hardware store.

The shop owner hung up a call and said to Chen Ming’s robot, which had been standing by: ”The news has basically spread throughout the Empire, anyone capable and qualified has seen the footage. Next, An Wuping will likely become the focus of the entire Empire.”

Chen Ming responded, ”That’s exactly what I wanted to see.”

”So, how far along are you?”

”I’ve got the Star Gate, but only one. The mother ship carrying the Destruction temporarily escaped, but my next plan is targeting it; it won’t get away.”

The shop owner didn’t ask Chen Ming why he needed to create an An Wuping to distract the Empire, then secretly engage with an entire Mechanical Race’s star realm.

He respected Chen Ming’s decisions.

After all, even from his perspective, the Insect Race’s power was exceedingly exaggerated, even more so than Chen Ming’s current capabilities.

It made the shop owner find the Empire’s stance difficult to imagine if Chen Ming’s identity as An Wuping was exposed.

After all, he truly saw the potential to rival the Empire in the Insect Race.

And he had seen this potential in Chen Ming long ago.

When two potentials converge in one person, can the Empire truly accommodate this individual?

He wasn’t sure, so he respected all of Chen Ming’s decisions and wouldn’t ask further questions.

However, he felt compelled to say: ”You need to handle those Insect Race ships in the star system quickly. I can deter some people from using legitimate means to approach those Insect Race warships, but can’t stop others from secretly acquiring samples of the Insect Race ships.”

Chen Ming replied, ”I’ve already arranged for the Insect Race Fleet to come over, and at that time, we’ll just put on a show, implant some Insect Race consciousness, and then take the ships away.”

”You seem to be lost in thought, not taking action for a long time.”

Chen Ming lowered his gaze through the robot’s viewpoint in front of the shop owner, assuring that he hadn’t installed any simulated expression devices on the robot.

”Don’t mind, I just felt you’re thinking about something important, even neglecting your own Insect Race spaceships.”

Chen Ming shrugged and said, ”Now that the Star Gate is complete, the issue of the Insect Race fleeing into the Empire’s territory is resolved, and the Mechanical Race’s attack on Xing Hai is also managed.”

”Now I just want to do two things, one of which is securing the Destruction.”

Chen Ming felt he should hurry.

Because time was running short for him.

To be precise, time was running short for the Mechanical Race.

The Mechanical Race’s combat power was swiftly diminished due to his actions, and the Empire would soon notice the military emptiness of the Mechanical Race and continue to advance.

Though conquering star systems and occupying planets are different; as long as the Empire intends to occupy the Mechanical Race’s planets, ground war needs to happen.

Even if each star system is conquered, until the planets are thoroughly occupied, the war isn’t over.

And unless Chen Ming intervenes, the Empire’s ground war with the Mechanical Race will still need time.

But that doesn’t affect the actual frontline progression.

Once the line advances to the Mechanical Race’s rear, it implies the Destruction Carrier is ever likely to engage with the Empire’s fleet.

If the Destruction is eliminated while fighting the Empire’s level 6 psychics, Chen Ming will lose the chance to acquire the Destruction.

That’s why rapid action is necessary to secure what he needs early.

He didn’t want any conflict of interest with the Empire.

Because he was very aware that, throughout the Empire, he wasn’t strong enough yet.

Merely surpassing the level that demands respect from the Empire doesn’t mean he can directly surpass the Empire.

Therefore, he formulated his next plan, focusing first on determining the whereabouts of the Destruction.