Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

“Wow!”

Hardly had Li Yao finished when Xiaoming and Wenwen clapped their hands hard. With his eyes full of admiration, Xiaoming shouted, “Why can dad be so sordid when he is sordid and so awesome when he is awesome?”

“Is what Boss Bai said true, and this is some sort of special way to distribute thinking abilities?”

Wenwen speculated, “He reveals only one percent of his wisdom to handle the daily work and communication, but the other ninety-nine percent of wisdom is not hibernating but running in silence, continuing the complicated and long-term deductions. Then, when the critical moments come, he will be able to present the results!”

“This is truly a remarkable ability that both ensures maximal computational ability and utilizes all the spare time of the brain in a reasonable way. Also, the energy consumption is greatly lowered, without any concerns of getting mentally deranged.”

Xiaoming was amazed. “For a pure crystal processor, it is absolutely impossible to switch between the two computational states in such a seamless way. Only a human brain is capable of that. Is this where the human brain is more advanced than the crystal processor?”

The two kids looked at each other and declared at the same time, “It seems we need to learn from Dad and pick up such a fantastic way of thinking!”

“Is that really so complicated?”

Slightly frowning, Li Yao said casually, “This is just the most insignificant reflection of my wisdom.”

Boss Bai covered his forehead. “… Enough, Li Yao, it’s really enough. Let’s just talk about the specific moves.”

“Specifically, first of all, an elite rapid response fleet with a high combat ability is certainly indispensable.”

Li Yao said solemnly, “The Blue Sky Space Zone is now ours, and Li Wuji, Marquess Yongchun, is in our hands too. According to the intelligence, there should still be one to two months until the battle of the Seven Seas Grand Market. During the time, the whole attention of the reformists and the four families will be focused on enlistment and mobilization. As long as Li Wuji delivers appropriate information, I don’t think anybody will disturb us while we maintain, upgrade, and train the fleet here.

“I don’t know the first thing about the construction of a fleet, but Boss Bai is undoubtedly the connoisseur here. Naturally, you should be fully responsible for it. The key is to let the Fist King, Xiaoming, and Wenwen completely melt into the fleet, in order to build a super fleet that is fastest and has the best cyberwarfare abilities even in the entire center of the cosmos. Eventually, the fleets stronger than us will not be as fast as us, those faster than us will not be as good at camouflages and deceptions as us, and the professional cyberwar troops that are better at camouflages and deceptions than us will not have as many super experts and Colossi for a head-on clash as we do. In that case, our fleet will never fail.

“With the super fleet as our shield, we will be able to initiate communication with the Star Glory Federation.

“It’s been a while since I jumped to the Imperium. The federation must be eager to learn the updates on the center of the cosmos. Before, I was either closely monitored by Li Linghai or running desperately. I never had the conditions to build a massive, super-remote base of communication, but right now, the conditions have been met.

“Although the federation, lying at the border of the Pangu universe, is not nearly as strong as the Imperium or the Covenant Alliance, our national power can certainly amount to one of the four families, can’t it? When the life-and-death game comes to the most critical moment, the reinforcements from the federation might play a vital role, right?

“The last thing is what I said just now. I’m thinking of finding Jin Yuyan, the director of the connoisseur, in the Seven Seas Grand Market and talk him into joining our side!”

Boss Bai, the Fist King, Long Yangjun, Xiaoming, and Wenwen were all deep in thought.

Knocking the table slowly, Boss Bai said, “There’s no reason why Blackstar the Great would ignore the problems that you have thought of. If I were Wuying Qi, I would certainly have infiltrated the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors one way or another. Are you sure that Jin Yuyan is not Wuying Qi’s guy, and he is unaware of the truth?”

“It goes without saying that Wuying Qi has tried to infiltrate the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors and partly succeeded, shifting the loyalty of some members of the alliance from ‘capitals’ to ‘His Majesty’.”

Li Yao said, “After all, capitals are like water. When they grow fierce and turn into a torrent, they can be most ferocious and destroy everything on their way.

“But when they are weak, they will be the weakest things in the world, even weaker than tofu. For the pettiest benefits, they will not hesitate to sell their parents.

“However, even if most members of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors may sell their organization and join Blackstar the Great, how could Jin Yuyan, as the director of the alliance, betray the foundation of his cause? Even if he does side with Wuying Qi, he will still be a major threat to Wuying Qi and will get removed sooner or later.

“Since he has become the leader of the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors, his smartness is unquestionable. I don’t believe that he will be so greedy and unwise. So, my judgment is that Jin Yuyan is still deceived, and he does not know the truth inside Li Linghai’s body. This guy is negotiable.”

Boss Bai said coldly, “If your guess is correct, I think that Jin Yuyan is likely to be in some sort of danger because Blackstar the Great certainly would not like such a ‘smart guy’ controlling the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors.”

“That’s right.”

Li Yao said, “That’s all the more reason why I need to go to the Seven Seas Grand Market. After all, a great battle is coming, in which anything can happen. It will be rather troublesome if Jin Yuyan is killed by unknown assassins.

“All in all, this is our plan. Boss Bai will supervise the construction of the fleet, I will establish the super-remote communication base, and after the communication with the federation, Long Yangjun and I will sneak into the Seven Seas Grand Market to persuade Jin Yuyan. We will try to earn the most benefits from the battle and accomplish the minor goal of killing Wuying Qi first before we pursue our ultimate dream of breaking out of the Pangu universe. Any questions?”

Boss Bai: “No.”

The Fist King: “No.”

Xiaoming and Wenwen: “No.”

Long Yangjun: “Yes, some of my primeval memories have just been awakened. It has occurred to me that I’m rather talented in fleet commanding. So, I’m thinking to stay in the space battlefield. The Dominator of Ventilation Tubes alone is enough for the sneaking job. Keep it up! I’m rooting for you!”

“Huh?”

Li Yao blinked quickly and turned to Xiaoming and Wenwen. “Hey kids, why don’t you come with your father on this mission?”

“About that…”

Xiaoming and Wenwen looked at each other and hesitated. “Yesterday, we talked about it with Master Fist King and realized that there were a lot of things that we needed to learn from Master Fist King. Also, if the battle network of a super fleet is to be established, it seems that our database will have to open more accesses and interfaces. All-All in all, there are a lot of technical details and problems that need addressing. You wouldn’t know what they meant even if we tell you, Dad. So, we really don’t have the time.”

“That’s right.”

The Fist King said calmly, “My database is more condensed and professional, storing solely the information about battles, but Xiaoming and Wenwen’s database includes a lot more information about the civilization of mankind. Our communication will significantly increase our logic abilities and mental activities. So, I have improved the issue to be the top priority. So, I cannot go with you, Li Yao. But don’t misunderstand, I truly want to go with you. Trust me, I’m a machine. Well, a machine doesn’t lie.”

Taking a deep breath, Li Yao looked at Boss Bai.

Boss Bai had already activated more than ten light beams. He was so focused on the construction of the fleet that he did not notice Li Yao’s scorching eyes at all.

The meeting room fell silent in a subtle, awkward atmosphere.

Li Yao looked at everyone, and everyone looked at their fingers.

“… Fine.”

Narrowing his eyes, Li Yao gnashed his teeth and said, “Let’s discuss the specific arrangements later. All in all, the first meeting of our ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’ is very successful—”

“Wait, what?”

Boss Bai was suddenly refreshed, and his head craned out of a light beam. “What the heck is the ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’? Was this one of the motions? Why didn’t I know anything?”

“It’s… the name of our team!”

Li Yao said matter-of-factly, “So many sophisticated eccentrics of the Pangu universe have been gathered for the future of mankind. This is such a thrilling and significant issue, and such a luxury and top combination. Naturally, it needs a great name!”

Boss Bai bashed the table and glared. “The most important thing is why this combination is named as ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’? Can’t it be called ‘coalition of kleptomaniacs’?”

“Yes, of course it can, but the name ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’ is more meaningful and awe-inspiring, because our goal is to bring light and warmth to all the civilizations in the whole universe!”

Li Yao scratched his head hard. Seeing that Boss Bai was apparently not in a good mood, he said in a hurry, “Don’t be upset, Boss Bai. How about this, let’s both take a step back and meet halfway. The name of the team is still ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’, but we can use your battle robe as the suit of our team! When the unparalleled experts of ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’ show up, you, I, the Fist King, Long Yangjun, Xiaoming, Wenwen, and even Li Jialing, Han Te, Liu Li, and the rest of them will all be wearing colorful shirts, beach pants, and blue-and-white flip-flops. Wouldn’t that be glamorous and astounding?”

Boss Bai: “…”

Xiaoming: “So, has Dad entered the low operation speed mode again, preserving all his intelligence?”

The Fist King: “I think so. Hehe, those idiotic human beings. Can ‘partnership of pyromaniacs’ or ‘coalition of kleptomaniacs’ even count as a name? In my opinion, it should be called the ‘invincible alliance of iron dominators’!”

“Huh?”

Wenwen was astounded. “M-Master Fist King, are you serious?”

“Of course.”

The Fist King said, “I’m a machine. A machine never jokes. I’m always serious. Is there a problem?”

“… I do have a minor question.”

Xiaoming couldn’t help but ask, “Master Fist King, how do you feel about the name ‘Super Awesome Heavenly Crystal Second Generation’?”

“It’s not half bad.”

The Fist King analyzed carefully for a moment and said, “It’s simple yet intimidating, the suffix ‘second generation’ points out its model and version, leaving room for future upgrades. The following models can be named as the third generation, fourth generation, fifth generation, and so on without causing any confusion. It’s a rarely-seen good name. What’s wrong?”

Xiaoming and Wenwen said at the same time, “N-Nothing. Just forget it.”