430: Deliberately making things difficult? Map! (4k two-in-one chapter)

A few minutes later, on the Li Clan planet.

“Your Excellency Lin Yang, please wait here for a moment; I will be right back.”

After the battleship landed, Li Shan greeted Lin Yang and then scurried away.

Lin Yang was somewhat puzzled, not understanding what Li Shan meant, so he waited in place.

Of course, he wasn’t just idly waiting.

Instead, he directly sent a communication request to Song Qingfeng.

The words Qing Ti spoke to him before her death likely pertained to the human genetic modification and recombination conducted by the Mingye Clan and Lingyou Clan.

He needed to report it.

The Unknown Space linked to the last-place universe.

He currently lacked the ability to investigate it alone.

That so-called Unknown Space was a mysterious region that even the Universe Alliance had not yet explored or developed.

It was full of various unknown risks.

Moreover, Qing Ti had urged him to go quickly at the time.

Evidently, some rather urgent event might be unfolding there.

Song Qingfeng was currently overwhelmed with work, but he still connected to Lin Yang’s communication request immediately.

“Lin Yang, is your mission going smoothly? Do you have anything to report?”

Once the communication connected, Song Qingfeng asked directly.

Previously, he would have had time to chat with Lin Yang during each communication, but now he clearly didn’t.

Lin Yang also understood that the entire Alien Management Bureau was currently in a frenzy, and time was precious, so he quickly explained the situation on his end and then said:

“Director, I wish to request that Li Su’s actions not be pursued.”

His communication with Song Qingfeng, besides reporting the secret Qing Ti mentioned, was also to immediately seek exemption from accountability for Li Su.

Song Qingfeng visibly frowned: “In principle, his actions were very inappropriate, but given the special circumstances, and since you won’t pursue it, then let it be. Later, submit a formal report, and I’ll have Xiao Quan handle the subsequent procedures.”

“Thank you, Director,” Lin Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

Earlier, when he promised not to pursue Li Su’s actions and allow him a martyr’s burial, he had mentally prepared for a lengthy struggle.

However, Song Qingfeng’s prompt agreement now saved him a lot of effort.

“That alien didn’t cause any serious consequences. Although his actions were inappropriate, there might be some procedural issues, but it’s not a major problem.”

Song Qingfeng waved his hand.

Exonerating Li Su was not a big deal for him, and since Your Excellency Lin Yang personally pleaded, he would naturally grant this favor.

Afterward, Song Qingfeng asked seriously: “You just said that alien woman told you a secret before her death, related to this incident. What is it?”

Lin Yang replied with equal seriousness: “Qing Ti said to me, ‘Go quickly to the Unknown Space linked to the last-place universe.’ She repeated ‘go quickly’ twice, so I think the matter should be quite urgent.”

Song Qingfeng’s brows furrowed even more noticeably: “The Unknown Space linked to the last-place universe? That’s a vast area. Did she mention specific coordinates or a general vicinity?”

“No,” Lin Yang shook his head, “She probably didn’t want to completely betray her own clan. Saying that much was likely her limit.”

He remembered clearly that Qing Ti had said that although she hated being a member of the Mingye Clan, she was ultimately raised by them and therefore unwilling to betray her kin.

By saying those words and providing a target region, Lin Yang surmised that Qing Ti’s intention at the time was that if humanity could timely locate the Mingye Clan within that vast Unknown Space, it would be a form of destiny’s arrangement.

She was unwilling to completely betray the Mingye Clan, yet she also wanted to redeem herself and Li Su somewhat.

Therefore, revealing this secret was almost Qing Ti’s final bottom line.

Song Qingfeng pondered for a moment, then slowly said, “I understand. It’s already quite rare for her to provide such a target area. After all, the Unknown Space has been barely explored and is full of various dangers. Under normal circumstances, no one would imagine the Mingye Clan conducting any activities within the Unknown Space. As for whether we can find what she wants us to find in that Unknown Space area, that depends on fate.”

“Qing Ti probably thought the same,” Lin Yang nodded.

Song Qingfeng suddenly sighed slightly: “Alas, this news isn’t actually good news. We have some understanding of the Mingye Clan’s overall strength. Even we humans find it difficult to operate in the Unknown Space. If the Mingye Clan truly has some arrangements in the Unknown Space, that can only prove one thing!”

“Director, are you implying…?” Lin Yang’s eyes narrowed.

Song Qingfeng gave a wry smile: “It seems you already understand what I’m going to say. That’s right, if that alien woman wasn’t deliberately lying, then it can only mean that the High-Dimensional Life might have provided other forms of support to the Mingye Clan, enabling them to operate safely in the Unknown Space. For us, this isn’t just not good news; it’s extremely bad news.”

Lin Yang immediately fell silent.

He understood Song Qingfeng’s meaning.

Humanity, with its many extraordinary powerhouses and several top-tier Level Nine civilizations, still found it difficult to thoroughly explore the Unknown Space.

The overall strength of the Mingye Clan was still somewhat inferior to humanity. If they had a base or similar facilities in the Unknown Space, it was clearly due to various forms of support from High-Dimensional Universe Life.

Then humanity would have to face power from the High-Dimensional Universe.

This made it difficult not to feel despair.

“Forget it, thinking about these things now only adds to the pressure. I’ll first communicate with other departments to see if we can dispatch a group of elite forces to investigate. Since that alien woman spoke out, the Mingye Clan’s operational area shouldn’t be deep within the Unknown Space. It should be in the peripheral regions or a location we can detect; otherwise, she wouldn’t have needed to specifically warn you.”

Song Qingfeng pondered for a few seconds, then spoke.

“Furthermore, it’s not that simple for that High-Dimensional Universe Life to cross the dimensional barrier to provide material support to the Mingye Clan. It shouldn’t be enough for them to establish any bases deep within the Unknown Space.”

With that, Song Qingfeng ended the communication.

Lin Yang continued to wait for Li Shan in place.

He couldn’t provide any assistance for the exploration of the Unknown Space at the moment.

He could only hope that the first exploration team would successfully uncover some useful information.

While waiting, Lin Yang also submitted a report explaining the Li Su incident, seeking his exoneration.

With the confidential information Qing Ti provided at the end, this matter could even be framed as atonement through meritorious service.

To this end, Lin Yang specifically contacted Xiaoquan Assistant again, asking him to review the report first.

“Your Excellency Lin Yang, there are no major issues with the report. For any minor flaws, you can send it over, and I can directly help you revise it. As for the atonement through meritorious service, that depends on whether the confidential information provided by that alien woman is true. I’ll help you initiate the current process, and if it’s later confirmed that the information provided by the alien woman is valid, then I will also follow up promptly. You won’t need to worry about it anymore.”

Xiaoquan Assistant reviewed the report and said meticulously.

He also reminded Lin Yang that, without proof that Qing Ti’s information was true, the application for atonement through meritorious service would have to be temporarily put on hold.

Since Li Su’s actions were no longer being pursued, and he was even allowed a normal martyr’s burial, there was no need to apply for meritorious service now.

Although based on the circumstances at the scene, the secret Qing Ti exchanged at the end should be true.

However, it had not yet been confirmed, so there was no need to create complications now.

“Your Excellency Lin Yang, I would like to personally remind you that there are actually quite a few people at Alliance Headquarters who are waiting to find fault with you. Therefore, the Director is quite strict in controlling all procedures on your end, not wanting any flaws to appear on your resume. So, it’s best to temporarily suppress any issues that might pose a risk.”

Xiaoquan Assistant suddenly lowered his voice and said something that surprised Lin Yang.

“Find fault with me?” Lin Yang was very surprised.

Why would they find fault with him?

Moreover… “What use is a perfect resume to me?” Lin Yang was also puzzled by this.

A resume, on Blue Star, was used for job applications and promotions.

But he had no intention of seeking promotions within the Alien Management Bureau.

Furthermore, in a place like the Alien Management Bureau, promotions and salary increases were more closely related to one’s own strength.

A resume should be of little use.

Xiaoquan Assistant whispered: “Tall trees catch the wind, Your Excellency Lin Yang. I can only say that the Alliance is not a monolith.”

“As for a resume, to be honest, it’s not something others need to worry about much, but for Your Excellency Lin Yang, a flawed resume will affect some important matters in the future. Some people will use it to make things difficult for you and obstruct some of your qualifications, which is why the Director wants your resume to be flawless.”

This made Lin Yang even more curious: “Xiaoquan Assistant, do you mean that some people will deliberately make things difficult for me in certain matters?”

“Yes, Your Excellency Lin Yang, you can absolutely understand it that way,” Xiaoquan Assistant replied.

“This…” Lin Yang’s eyes flickered twice, then he slowly said, “Xiaoquan Assistant, is it those old guys who fought with my master in front of the Universe Alliance building that day?”

Combining Xiaoquan Assistant’s words before and after, he could already guess some things.

Xiaoquan Assistant hesitated slightly, even turning to look around before replying: “Your Excellency Lin Yang, some things are best understood in your heart. I cannot speak too directly, and I hope you can understand.”

“Thank you for the reminder.” Lin Yang, understanding, did not ask any more questions.

He knew that Xiaoquan Assistant wasn’t deliberately being coy or mysterious.

If he could speak plainly, he would have told him directly.

Saying this much now must have already involved a great deal of risk.

Those old guys were still somewhat terrifying.

“You’re welcome, Your Excellency Lin Yang. Please send me the report,” Xiaoquan Assistant then said.

“Alright, then I’ll trouble Your Excellency Xiaoquan Assistant,” Lin Yang conveniently sent the report over.

“Received. Regarding Li Su’s matter, I will follow up at all times. Your Excellency Lin Yang, you no longer need to worry about it. Missions might be frequent for a while, so please be sure to pay attention to your own safety when carrying out missions,” Xiaoquan Assistant reminded again.

“Thank you, I will,” Lin Yang thanked him, then ended the communication.

Barely two minutes after he ended his communication with Xiaoquan Assistant, Li Shan hurried over again.

“Lin, Your Excellency Lin Yang…” Li Shan was a little out of breath.

Seeing this, Lin Yang couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Old Patriarch Li Shan, what have you been up to?”

Although Li Shan was fifty or sixty years old, even on Blue Star, a healthy person of that age wouldn’t be so tired after running for just a few minutes.

Not to mention here on the Li Clan planet; although their technological civilization level wasn’t high, they were very close to the Tianji Federation, and the physical quality of their populace was excellent.

Li Shan had been gone for less than ten minutes in total; even if he had been running the whole time, he shouldn’t have been this exhausted.

“Cough, cough… Your Excellency Lin Yang, please forgive me. These old bones of mine are truly getting a bit useless.”

Li Shan understood Lin Yang’s meaning, his old face flushed, and he said no more. Instead, he solemnly took out a wooden box wrapped in brocade cloth and handed it to Lin Yang.

“This is…” Lin Yang took the box and opened it.

Inside was a somewhat incomplete… “Map? Is this a map?”

Lin Yang distinguished it, then spoke with some uncertainty.

Because the incomplete map inside the wooden box was indeed quite mottled and old.

Li Shan smiled and nodded: “Your Excellency Lin Yang has good eyesight. This is indeed a map.”

“…” Lin Yang’s expression was odd.

What good eyesight was this?

Although the map was old, anyone who wasn’t a fool could recognize it at a glance.

Of course, that wasn’t important.

What was important was why the Li Clan kept such an old map.

And why Li Shan presented it to him so solemnly.

To be honest, maps were something only seen on Blue Star.

On other technologically advanced planets, star charts had completely replaced maps.

Star charts were more intuitive, convenient, and user-friendly.

Maps, as an old-fashioned product, had long been phased out by the various civilizations in the universe. It was probably hard to find them; one might only dig some out in particularly ancient antique shops.

Li Shan seemed to have read Lin Yang’s mind and said, “Your Excellency Lin Yang, this is a map of a special treasure location. It was acquired by some of our clan’s predecessors at great cost. It is said that star charts cannot be used to mark it, which is why this old-fashioned map exists. It marks some dangers and suspected treasure locations within that treasure place.”

Hearing this, Lin Yang looked closely again and indeed saw some markings on it.

Li Shan then continued:

“Originally, our ancestors had ordered that this map not be shown to outsiders unless a remarkably talented descendant of our clan emerged who knew where this place was, and only then could they take this map to seek treasure. However, countless years have passed, and no one in our clan has yet been able to identify the treasure location marked on this map. Therefore, I, this old man, have decided to give it to you!”

“Uh… a treasure location?” Lin Yang was stunned for a moment. “Is this an internal map of a treasure area recorded by your Li Clan’s predecessors?”

“Yes,” Li Shan nodded.

Lin Yang couldn’t help but ask three questions in a row: “How many years ago was this? What kind of treasure area is it? What treasures are inside?”

“From now… probably… a few thousand years ago? I’m not very clear about the other specifics; the clan records are already very vague,” Li Shan replied.

Lin Yang’s expression immediately became strange again.

A treasure area, suspected to be at least a few thousand years old, would this map still be useful now?

The treasures inside should have been long since emptied, right?

Li Shan looked at Lin Yang’s expression, his old face flushed again, and he coughed dryly, saying, “Your Excellency Lin Yang, actually…”

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