349: Establish a new order in the multiverse!

At the peak of the Crystal Tower.

The originally pristine, divinely oppressive building was now thoroughly dyed in a deep black-gold.

The massive Earth Federation emblem, like a scorching sun, hung at the top of the tower, illuminating this Multiverse that had just experienced a catastrophe.

However, peace did not arrive as expected.

"It's in chaos."

Su Qingying rubbed her throbbing temples and tossed a thick stack of holographic reports onto the table.

"Lu Chen, you pulled the 'plug', and while everyone is free, the order is gone."

"Now, everyone outside is like a headless fly."

"Some civilizations are launching suicide attacks because their resources are exhausted."

"Some are collectively throwing themselves into the sea because their faith has collapsed."

"And others..."

Su Qingying pointed to one of the screens, which showed a group of Abyss Wanderers driving broken spaceships and robbing everywhere.

"They are using your name to collect 'protection fees' everywhere."

"Chaos is normal."

Lu Chen sat on the newly forged "Administrator's Throne," which was made of pure data streams.

He held a glass of red wine in his hand, gently swirling it.

"It's like a group of prisoners who have been locked up their whole lives suddenly breaking out of prison."

"Their first reaction definitely isn't going home to farm, but rather robbing a supermarket to calm their nerves."

"Then aren't you going to do something about it?"

Ye Qingcang couldn't stand it anymore; the hilt of the sword in his hand creaked as he squeezed it.

"As long as you give the order, I'll take the Divine Mechanism Guards out for a spin, and I guarantee they'll behave!"

"Suppression?"

Lu Chen took a sip of wine and shook his head.

"Old Ye, that's a poor strategy."

"Killing is simple, but if I kill them all, who will work for me? Who will contribute to the GDP for Fatty?"

Hearing 'GDP', Wang Peng, who was curled up in the corner calculating accounts, instantly perked up his ears, his eyes shining.

"Brother Chen! I knew you had a plan!"

"Tell me, how are we doing this? I'm going crazy from poverty!"

Lu Chen put down his wine glass and stood up.

He walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the Multiverse beneath his feet, which was as brilliant as a galaxy but also chaotic and unbearable.

In his eyes, a light called "ambition" flickered.

"In the past, the Supervisor ruled through 'fear'."

"They set the rules and then harvested lives."

"That model is too low-class."

Lu Chen extended a finger and tapped it lightly against the glass.

"What I want to build is a 'platform'."

"A platform?" Everyone was stunned.

"That's right."

Lu Chen snapped his fingers.

"heavenly craft."

"I am here, Father."

heavenly craft, wearing Valkyrie armor, appeared, her aura becoming increasingly divine.

"Issue an announcement to the entire universe."

"First, the Earth Federation will not seek hegemony, will not take slaves, and will not conduct mass purges."

"Second."

A merchant-like smile curled the corners of Lu Chen's mouth.

"We are going to establish the largest 'trading center' in the entire universe here."

"Whether you are a Level 5 civilization or a primitive tribe."

"As long as you have resources, technology, or even just physical strength."

"You can exchange them for everything you need here!"

"Energy, weapons, and even... the opportunity for 'ascension'!"

"What we are issuing is not orders."

"It is... currency!"

Wang Peng's drool was almost dripping as he listened, his fat trembling with excitement.

"I get it! Brother Chen, you want Earth currency to become the dollar of the entire universe! We're going to collect seigniorage!"

"Smart."

Lu Chen gave him an appreciative look.

"As long as they accept our money."

"Then their lives will also be in our hands."

"This is ten thousand times more clever than killing."

...

Half an hour later.

A grand, majestic, yet seductive voice spread through the newly repaired "data pipeline" to every corner of the Multiverse.

[Announcement: This is New Asgard, now renamed — "Heavenly Court".]

[I am the Administrator, Lu Chen.]

[The old gods are dead, and a new order shall be established.]

[Effective immediately, the "Myriad Worlds Interconnection Plan" is officially launched.]

[All civilizations, cease internal strife and immediately proceed to the nearest "Heavenly Court Office" to register.]

[Those who violate this...]

The voice paused, and then, that giant silver eye "001" floating in the void suddenly shot out a terrifying death ray, instantly vaporizing a desolate planet that was in the middle of a massacre!

[Let this be an example!]

A carrot and stick approach.

After this combination of moves, the originally chaotic universe instantly quieted down.

Countless leaders of civilizations looked at the black-gold emblem floating above their heads; although they felt fear in their hearts, a glimmer of hope was ignited.

No need to fight?

Only need to trade?

This is simply heaven!

"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Gao Jianjun stood in the command room, watching the civilization fleets on the screen already beginning to line up for registration, and was completely awestruck.

"Commander Lu, this move of yours has directly turned us from 'invaders' into 'saviors'!"

"Just empty fame."

Lu Chen waved his hand and sat back down on the throne.

Although he seemed relaxed, Su Qingying noticed that Lu Chen's hand was unconsciously stroking the hilt of the "pangu sword".

That was a sign of his nervousness or... vigilance.

"What's wrong?"

Su Qingying walked over and asked softly, "The big picture is settled; what are you worried about?"

Lu Chen was silent for a moment.

He raised his head, his gaze not looking at the cheering crowds, but rather at the void above, which remained pitch-black, deep, and seemingly endless.

"Qingying."

"Do you think, with such a big commotion."

"That so-called 'developer' wouldn't know?"

Su Qingying's heart tightened: "You mean..."

"The game is beaten."

Lu Chen's voice was very soft, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness.

"Logically, at this time, subtitles should appear, or a 'Congratulations on Clearing the Game' prompt box should pop up."

"But..."

Lu Chen pointed to the deathly silent sky above.

"It's too quiet."

"So quiet... it's as if someone pulled the plug."

Just then.

"Buzz—"

An extremely faint, yet incomparably piercing sound of electrical current suddenly rang in everyone's minds.

Immediately after.

The lights in the entire command room all went out.

Along with the starlight outside, the light from the battleship engines, and even the light of "001".

Everything disappeared.

The world plunged into absolute darkness.

"What's going on?!"

"Power outage? Does the High-Dimensional World also have power outages?"

"What about backup power? heavenly craft! heavenly craft!"

In the panic.

Only Lu Chen's voice remained terrifyingly calm.

"Stop shouting."

"It's not a power outage."

In the darkness, Lu Chen slowly stood up.

He could feel an indescribable gaze, transcending dimensions, passing through layers of code and landing on him.

That gaze had no malice.

Nor did it have goodwill.

It only had a kind of... absolute indifference, like watching pixels dance on a screen.

"It's here."

Lu Chen gripped the sword in his hand tightly and grinned into the endless darkness.

"The real... player."

The next second.

A line of text, emitting a faint blue light, not just Chinese characters, but even the "Song typeface" that Lu Chen was most familiar with, slowly appeared in the darkness:

[Abnormal data overflow detected.]

[System self-check failed.]

[Attempting... physical reboot.]