256: Chapter 257 Jiang Chen's statues stand all over the Milky Way

The interstellar port was bustling with activity.

It was once the darkest hunting ground of The Sweepers civilization, but now it had been transformed into a trade hub for the Milky Way Galaxy.

On the massive floating platform, crowds surged.

There were not only alien nobles from various star regions but also infrastructure teams wearing the standard work uniforms of the Dragon Kingdom.

The instruments in their hands beeped incessantly, and the air was filled with the refreshing scent of high-energy ions mixed with that familiar, spicy aroma of hot pot base.

Jiang Chen stood on the highest observation deck.

Overlooking the endless stream of interstellar starships below, he felt like a slightly wealthy contractor standing in his own backyard.

No, to be precise, a village chief.

"Boss, here is today's mineral clearing report."

Zhao Gang stood behind him, handing over a thick electronic scroll, "The production in the Centaurus mining area has increased again. They added it voluntarily, saying it was to thank you for providing the 'Foundation Building Gymnastics' video."

Jiang Chen casually swiped through the data.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

That was the feeling of controlling absolute power.

He looked up toward the center of the plaza not far away.

A massive statue, cast entirely from dark gold material, stood there.

The statue was a full thirty meters tall and sculpted with vivid realism.

The figure was wearing a simple white T-shirt and big shorts, one hand in his pocket, eyes gazing lazily into the distance, and he was even holding half a bag of unopened spicy strips.

"Who erected this one?"

Jiang Chen pointed at the statue, unable to laugh or cry, "Didn't I say to keep a low profile? Putting this thing here not only blocks the wind, but it's also easy for birds to poop on."

"This was erected voluntarily by the 'Silicon-based Intelligence Alliance'."

Academician Chen Shuyin walked up from behind, holding a stack of documents regarding "Galaxy Governance," "They said that if you hadn't 'eaten' those murderous The Sweepers, they would have long since become scrap metal."

"So, they felt it was necessary to erect a monument for the 'only truth of the Milky Way Galaxy'."

Jiang Chen rubbed his temples.

He never expected that after this interstellar journey, he would end up becoming the universe's number one mascot.

"Besides here, where else is there one?"

Jiang Chen asked, somewhat helplessly.

"There are plenty."

Academician Chen Shuyin flipped through the star map, a trace of banter on her lips, "On the trading planet in Orion, they erected a white marble statue of you. They dubbed you the 'God of Luck' and burn three high-energy batteries every day to pray for wealth."

"And over in Andromeda, those friends who look like octopuses even printed your portrait on their currency."

"It is said that now, in that galaxy, if you want to pass through the star gate, you must kowtow three times to your portrait."

Jiang Chen: "..."

Do these aliens have some kind of serious illness?

I'm here to do business, not to start a cult.

But he had to admit.

This feeling... was actually quite satisfying.

Back on Earth, he had to bow for five pecks of rice and stay up late for mortgage and car loan payments.

Now?

He could mobilize the resources of the entire Milky Way Galaxy at will.

Dozens of advanced civilizations, just to beg him for a bag of spicy strips, would not hesitate to sell the mineral rights of their planets.

This loneliness of standing at the peak made Jiang Chen even miss the days on Earth where "just acting cool casually could cause a sensation."

"By the way."

Jiang Chen turned to look at Academician Chen Shuyin, "How is the analysis of the core data from those 'The Sweepers' coming along?"

"Not yet."

Academician Chen Shuyin's eyes were somewhat solemn, "The algorithms of these guys are too bizarre; they are completely attacking based on logical loopholes. However..."

She paused and pulled a chip flickering with purple light from her pocket: "I added Pikachu's bio-electricity to it."

"Unexpectedly, it produced a chemical reaction."

"Now, these intelligent machines, as soon as they approach our defense line, fall into a collective infinite loop because they cannot understand the logic of 'random current'."

"Simply put, they've gone stupid."

Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

It seems Pikachu is indeed an S-rank fierce beast; it can even electrocute alien AI into mental retardation.

"Continue the research."

Jiang Chen waved his hand grandly, "No matter what the threat is, electrocute them all."

"We don't talk about peace; we talk about energy, we talk about trade."

"If we can't come to an agreement..."

Jiang Chen looked at his golden statue and sneered, "Then let them know who is the richest... village chief on this street."

He stood up and strode toward the luan bird.

"Old Qin just sent a message."

"He said there are some blind people in the Solar System who want to try to cause trouble again."

"Perfect, let's bring back these interstellar 'taxes'."

"We're going back home..."

"To collect rent!"

Zhao Gang followed behind, carrying the box filled with Wasteland alloys, his face full of high spirits: "Got it! The rent collection team is setting off! This time, are we tearing down the houses or scraping off the land?"

Jiang Chen waved his hand: "Depends on the mood."

"After all, I am a conscientious landlord."

"I don't do demolitions; I just... raise the rent a little bit."

As soon as he finished speaking, the luan bird started up.

As the eerie blue light of the engines swallowed the starry sky, this group of Earthlings, who had been throwing their weight around in the Milky Way Galaxy, once again marched back toward their home planet, which was filled with Shura fields and danger.

At this moment, in the cosmic void half a light-year away from Earth.

In a deathly darkness.

An old, dust-covered probe suddenly captured the signal of this returning fleet.

It did not launch an attack, nor did it intercept.

It simply and silently sent the various combat data of this fleet, along a high-dimensional communication channel, continuously to an... entity located in a higher dimension.

And that entity seemed to have known about this for a long time.

Because it was waiting for this moment.

Waiting for that young man named "Jiang Chen" to bring all his trump cards and step into that... chess game belonging to the gods.

"Interesting."

In the distant deep space, a low voice, filled with disdain and scrutiny, echoed in that endless darkness: "Using my technology, eating my leftovers."

"And you want to talk to me about 'rules'?"

"Since you want to play, then I'll play with you to the end."

"When we meet again, let's see who is the... true chosen one in this universe."

Jiang Chen was still standing on the bow of the ship, blowing in the wind, looking at the stars filling the sky, his mood more comfortable than ever before.

He had no idea that every move he made, and even the joke he just made about "rent," had already been noted down in a little notebook by some indescribable, terrifying entity.

He simply felt.

This Milky Way Galaxy... is really decent.

If there's a chance in the future, he must come back.

"What's wrong? Jiang Chen?"

Academician Chen Shuyin walked to his side, looking at his expression as if he understood everything, and subconsciously asked.

"Nothing."

Jiang Chen turned to look at her, smiling with a rogue expression: "Just feeling that our path is getting wider and wider."

"Before, I was always afraid of being targeted, afraid of being killed by others."

"Now..."

He gently took Academician Chen Shuyin's hand, fingers interlaced, his gaze firmly fixed on the blue planet they were about to return to: "Even if God wants to play with me, He has to ask first if I, this 'village chief', agree."

The two stood on the bow, looking at the blue planet that was getting bigger and bigger.

There were children there, there were families.

There was an impending crisis capable of destroying the galaxy.

And there was that... Empress, who would arrive in three days, bringing with her full fury and yandere love, crossing dimensions.

Whether it's a Shura field or an interstellar war.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath.

"Bring it on."

"No matter which god or demon it is, no matter what monsters or demons they are."

"I'll take them all on!"

Inside the cabin, a cheerful piece of music played; it was "Good Luck Comes," recorded specifically for him by Jiang Wanqiu, looping for the hundredth time.

Listening to this infectious divine song, Jiang Chen stepped toward the cabin door that was about to be kicked open by the "Empress."