375: Lu Chen's gratified smile

Xinghe Group headquarters, top-floor chairman's office.

The metal room, originally cold and hard with a cyberpunk style, was now illuminated in silver by holographic projections.

In the image, that tiny figure, only three years old, was standing on the throne of Lingxiao Hall, with countless "Psionic Stars" that had just been lit behind him.

That domineering aura, looking down on the world and treating all things as mere grass, even seeped through the screen, making the air in the office turn scorching hot.

"Tsk."

Lu Chen leaned back on the leather sofa, swirling a glass of red wine in his hand, the curve at the corner of his mouth impossible to suppress.

"This brat."

"Usually, when I ask him to recite the multiplication table, he grumbles and complains, but when it comes to this 'cosmic-level demolition', he's a natural."

Su Qingying sat opposite him, holding a cup of hot tea, her eyes so tender they seemed about to melt into water.

She looked at her son on the screen, her eyes slightly moist.

"He's grown up."

"Even though he was forced to grow up, he did it."

"Lu Chen, did you see? His eyes... are exactly the same as yours when you announced the success of Controllable Nuclear Fusion at the press conference back then."

"Yeah."

Lu Chen set down his wine glass, stood up, and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window.

Beneath his feet, that once lifeless, strictly hierarchical sky city was now undergoing earth-shattering changes.

Countless transport ships bearing the Xinghe Group logo were transporting those "Silver Energy Canisters" from the first layer world to every corner of the city.

Lights flickered on in the once-dim slums.

Factories that had stalled due to energy shortages roared back to life.

Even on the faces of those numb pedestrians, a look called "hope" appeared for the first time in a long while.

"He didn't just light up the lamps at home."

"He also happened to help me tear a hole in this dark world."

Lu Chen turned around and looked at Su Qingying.

At this moment, the cynicism on his face had vanished.

In its place was an unprecedented, heartfelt **relief**.

That was a father's highest praise for his son.

"Qingying."

"I've always worried about what would happen to this family if one day I was no longer around, or if I lost."

"After all, the enemies I've provoked are too many and too strong."

Lu Chen walked to Su Qingying, knelt down, and gently took her hand.

"But now, I'm not afraid anymore."

"Because I know that even if the sky falls."

"That brat..."

Lu Chen pointed at the tiny figure on the screen who was currently issuing orders.

"...can also hold it up for me."

"This feeling..."

Lu Chen took a deep breath, and that smile that had moved countless people appeared on his face.

"It's really good."

"Of course."

Su Qingying reached out to straighten his collar, her eyes full of pride. "Look who gave birth to him."

Just at this warm moment.

*Bang!*

The office door was pushed open by someone's backside.

Wang Peng (Fatty) squeezed in, panting, carrying a stack of documents taller than himself.

"Oh my god! Fat Master is exhausted!"

"Brother Chen! Sister-in-law! You two still have time to be all lovey-dovey here?"

"The outside world has exploded!"

Wang Peng threw the documents onto the table with a crash, and they scattered everywhere.

They were all kinds of contracts, transfer documents, and letters for help.

"What happened?" Lu Chen stood up, returning to his lazy demeanor.

"What else could it be?"

Wang Peng grabbed the kettle on the table and took a huge gulp.

"As soon as our 'Silver Energy' hit the market, it directly crashed the energy market here!"

"One cent per kilowatt-hour! What's the difference between that and giving it away for free?"

"Those zaibatsu and oligarchs who used to suck blood by selling high-priced electricity are all kneeling downstairs right now!"

Wang Peng gesticulated excitedly, the fat on his face trembling.

"They're crying and begging us to take their companies, just to have a bite to eat!"

"Brother Chen, now 99% of the assets in the entire Fourth Layer world are named 'Lu'!"

"We are now the 'Gods' of this world!"

"Gods?"

Lu Chen picked up a transfer document, scanned it briefly, and then threw it back on the table like trash.

"Fatty, vision."

"How many times have I told you? You need to broaden your vision."

Lu Chen walked to the window, looking at the neon lights flashing frantically outside.

His gaze gradually became cold and deep.

"What's the point of being a god in this 'brain in a vat' experimental field?"

"It's like being a head guard in a prison. No matter how majestic you are, you're still a prisoner."

"But..."

Wang Peng froze for a moment. "We've already cleared our way to the Fourth Layer. Any further up..."

"Further up."

Lu Chen looked up.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the ceiling of this world, looking toward that unknowable, mist-shrouded **The Fifth Layer**.

"That is where 'reality' truly lies."

"And also where that so-called 'Creator'..."

"**is sleeping**."

*Rumble—!!!*

As if to verify Lu Chen's words.

The moment he finished speaking.

The entire Fourth Layer world suddenly trembled violently!

It wasn't an earthquake.

It was... **a dimensional tremor**.

The clouds in the sky began to swirl frantically, forming a massive vortex that covered the entire world.

A suffocating pressure, filled with an ancient and decaying aura, slowly descended from the center of that vortex.

"Warning! Warning!"

The red lights in the office flashed frantically.

heavenly craft (Avatar)'s voice rang out urgently:

"Father! Detected an ultra-high energy level reaction!"

"Source... directly above!"

"Energy index... unmeasurable! It's off the charts!"

"Finally awake?"

Lu Chen looked at the vortex, not only without any fear, but instead showing that signature smile once more.

But this time.

There was no relief in the smile, only... **a towering fighting spirit**.

"My son lit the lamps below."

"I've stoked the fire in the middle."

"If you can still sleep after all that..."

"Then your heart as the 'Creator' is truly too big."

Lu Chen turned abruptly, his trench coat fluttering even without wind.

He reached one hand into the void, and that [Pangu · Sky-Opening Sword], which had just been tempered by "Silver Energy" and had evolved into its complete form, crashed into his hand!

"Fatty! Qingying!"

"Here!" the two responded simultaneously, their expressions solemn.

"Leave the matters at home to Xinghe."

"Leave the business here to those surrendered zaibatsu."

"We..."

Lu Chen pointed his sword tip directly at the sky vortex that was slowly opening.

"...are going to meet that true 'Big Boss'."

"And while we're at it, ask him..."

"About this broken game full of bugs, full of despair, and treating countless lives like lab rats..."

"**how he plans to compensate us for our mental anguish!**"