238: Chapter 238 The Three Commanders Join Forces to Backstab! (Two Chapters Combined)

Luo Qianxue ignored Marshal Zhou Buqi's foolish words; her attention remained fixed on the footage of the singularity collapse.

"It is not a conventional black hole."

"Its existence time is too short, and it did not form a complete event horizon."

"But the surrounding space was indeed pulled into a collapsed structure."

She paused for a moment.

"This kid created a microscopic singularity in front of his fist..."

Marshal Zhou Buqi also fell silent.

He looked again at the footage of Su Ming standing in the sinkhole.

Eighteen years old.

His Physical Body suppressing a Rank 9 Law.

He could even use physical force to interfere with space.

Marshal Zhou Buqi raised his hand and rubbed his brow.

"Where did Old Shen get such a monster?!"

"He picked him up," Marshal Huo Tianxing smacked his lips.

"His file says he is an orphan from Jiangcheng, and he didn't receive any high-level resource training before his Awakening."

Luo Qianxue closed her eyes for a moment.

"If he really is Old Shen's son-in-Law... our days ahead will be even harder."

Marshal Zhou Buqi also calmed down and spoke with rare seriousness.

"Qianxue, can this collapsed singularity swallow your forbidden spell?"

Luo Qianxue was silent for two seconds.

"Hard to say."

She dragged the combat footage to the end.

"The singularity is warping space-time. And my Absolute Zero... is stopping the microscopic thermal motion within the area, thereby 'freezing' the space-time medium."

"If we really were to clash, it would depend on whether his gravitational pull is faster, or my freezing is faster."

Marshal Huo Tianxing's eyelids twitched.

"Stop!"

"Don't use that habit of yours from the Northern Military Region of freezing people for three days upon meeting on this kid."

"If he really gets provoked by you and slaps you down, I might not be able to save you in time."

Luo Qianxue glanced at him.

"You were slapped away because your body is weak."

"But I wouldn't be."

Marshal Huo Tianxing wanted to leave the group chat.

People from the North have mouths as stiff as if they've been frozen.

Marshal Zhou Buqi, however, grasped onto something else.

She herself felt it was absurd.

But Marshal Zhou Buqi was also struck by the same sense of absurdity.

Was he actually seriously analyzing whether an eighteen-year-old kid could beat him?

Thinking about it...

"Wait... is this kid really eighteen? Eighteen years old and soloing a Rank 9?!"

Marshal Zhou Buqi picked up his folding fan and tapped it on the table twice.

There was a trace of trembling in his voice.

"When that Old Demon Shen comes out of the ruins, won't his tail be wagging all the way to the sky?"

"He was already capable of showing off enough before."

"When his daughter was born, she had the Geng Metal Blade Bone Awakening; he showed off from Jiangcheng all the way to the Imperial Capital."

"Now, with an eighteen-year-old son-in-Law who can solo a Rank 9..."

Marshal Zhou Buqi didn't continue.

All three of them imagined the scene.

Shen Hongyuan sitting at the head of the four marshals' conference table, with his daughter's battle achievements on the left and his son-in-Law's on the right, sighing before speaking.

"Sigh, both children are troublesome; they just casually beat up a Rank 9."

"Wouldn't this group name have to be changed to [Old Man Shen's Daily Show-Off Group]?"

Marshal Huo Tianxing's teeth itched.

Luo Qianxue's expression instantly turned cold.

"We cannot let these two show-offs be on the same side. We must create opposition."

Marshal Zhou Buqi nodded heavily.

"Right! We absolutely cannot let him only listen to Old Shen!"

"I do have a way..."

Marshal Huo Tianxing stroked his chin, his brain turning rapidly.

"How?"

"Very simple."

Marshal Huo Tianxing pulled up Su Ming's existing profile.

"How many years has Old Shen been in retirement? In the official roster, there is no active marshal in Zhennan City, only a Jiang Nanxing holding the post. The three of us are the highest active decision-making layer of the Federation..."

"Old Shen's public identity is just a retired civil servant at the Jiangcheng Scrap Yard."

"Looking at Su Ming's appearance, it's obvious he doesn't know Old Shen's true identity yet."

"Then we start with official authority."

Marshal Zhou Buqi immediately understood.

"Pull Su Ming into the active military system."

"The military Rank cannot be too low! The position cannot be too ordinary!"

"He can't stay in a certain regiment handling documents for a long time."

Su Ming is currently a Captain; as long as he develops steadily, it will definitely let the Southern Military Region take advantage first.

Lieutenant Colonel Chu Feng is from the Southern Military Region.

Commander Huangfu Jing is too.

Not to mention Shen Qingci.

If he is just shoved back to the South, wouldn't everything he did today—saving people, getting beaten, guarding the border—all be making wedding clothes for Old Demon Shen?

Why should all the credit go to him?

No.

Absolutely not.

Luo Qianxue's eyes lit up.

"You mean... win this kid over? And in disguise, hollow out Old Demon Shen?"

Marshal Huo Tianxing waved his hand, his face full of righteousness.

"Why do you say it like that again! This is called organizational training, conferring titles and granting promotions."

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it felt.

"Don't give him a regular establishment."

"Directly approve an independent sequence."

"Let him report only to the three of us."

Marshal Zhou Buqi's folding fan stopped.

"You want to implement a Three-Marshal Joint Control?"

"Yes! It is procedurally compliant."

He raised a finger.

"This is below three people, but above ten thousand."

Marshal Zhou Buqi slapped his thigh, his scholarly temperament instantly shattered all over the floor.

"Good, good, good! Like teacher, like student! Marshal Huo Tianxing, I think it works!"

Marshal Huo Tianxing paced back and forth under the rock wall with his hands behind his back, his speaking speed increasing.

"He will be managed by the three of us. Three-Marshal Joint Control is completely compliant procedurally. We will raise this kid a notch. Don't call him Captain or Regiment Commander; those empty titles don't match his battle achievements today."

He stopped and turned around.

"My proposal... approve a 3S independent establishment, codename 'Falling Star'. The title will be 'Federal Special Inspection Envoy'. Max out his authority. Nominally, he has the power of inspection and supervision over all four major military regions, reporting directly to our three-marshal joint council."

In the projection, Marshal Zhou Buqi and Luo Qianxue both sat up straight simultaneously.

Luo Qianxue's slender fingers tapped the armrest twice, a glint appearing in her eyes.

"Federal Special Inspection Envoy... Falling Star..."

She savored the words and pushed her water cup to the side.

"This move is absolute! When Old Man Shen comes back, this kid will have our three joint credentials, and his official Rank will be several levels above him."

Marshal Zhou Buqi grew more excited the more he thought about it.

"Then this kid will have to be grateful to us!"

Luo Qianxue replied even faster.

"That's for sure. From now on, when Old Shen talks, I'll chat; when Old Shen picks up food, I'll spin the table."

Marshal Zhou Buqi slammed the table and stood up.

"Hahahaha! This joint backstab, one word... absolute!"

Marshal Huo Tianxing restrained his smile, his tone turning serious.

"Then it's settled! Three Marshals' joint signature!"

Marshal Zhou Buqi took a deep breath.

"Approved!"

Luo Qianxue pressed her fingerprint.

"Agreed!"

Marshal Huo Tianxing pressed his palm onto the terminal.

"Issue the credentials immediately!"

Three Rank 9 Origin imprints lit up simultaneously.

[Identity verification passed.]

[Wartime independent establishment application approved.]

[Codename: Falling Star.]

[Position: Federal Special Inspection Envoy.]

[Authority Rank: SSS.]

[Joint Signatories: Marshal Huo Tianxing of Dingxi, Marshal Zhou Buqi of Andong, Marshal Luo Qianxue of Yubei.]

[Accessing the Federal Highest Military Archive...]

Marshal Huo Tianxing looked at the black gold credentials being generated, feeling more and more comfortable.

The process was fast; when Su Ming receives this thing later, won't he be moved to tears?

Independent codename, full access to the resource library, joint issuance by three active marshals.

Looking at the entire Federation, you really can't find a second instance of this treatment.

The three of them laughed together.

In their smiles was a sense of relief after having been suppressed by the same person for over a decade and finally succeeding in a sneak attack!

At this moment, Marshal Zhou Buqi suddenly spoke.

"Let's agree first, this meeting record is classified as top secret."

"Especially, don't let Old Shen see it in advance."

Luo Qianxue nodded.

"Agreed."

Marshal Huo Tianxing raised his hand and turned off the projection.

"Meeting adjourned."

Before the terminal went black, Marshal Zhou Buqi added one last sentence.

"Old Huo, send that part where you got slapped again; I didn't save the high-definition version just now."

"Get lost!"

The communication disconnected.

...

In the rock crevice, only the low vibration from the fighter engine remained, and a few grains of sand rolled down from the rock cracks, landing beside Marshal Huo Tianxing's combat boots.

He put away the terminal, straightened his collar, and walked back to the sinkhole.

In the distance, Su Ming was directing Ye Xiao and Young Master Gu Lingfeng to transport the Magic Spider carcass.

"Gentle!"

"Don't break that piece of carapace on the left; that thing can be made into a shield, and it's priced based on its integrity!"

Marshal Huo Tianxing looked at the busy back, his pace slowing by half a beat.

After this kid gets the Falling Star credentials, what will be the first thing he says?

Marshal Huo Tianxing suddenly felt a bit of anticipation.

But what he looked forward to even more than this was...

When the teacher returns and discovers that his precious son-in-Law has three "direct superiors" over his head...

The level of brilliance on that old face will likely be recorded in the history books of the Federal military.

"Marshal Huo!"

Zheng Baichuan's voice came from afar.

"Zhou Kui's transport cabin is ready; shall we take off immediately?"

Marshal Huo Tianxing snapped back to reality.

"Take off. Highest level escort, direct to the Source Tracing Division."

He paused and added another sentence.

"Also, notify the administrator of the Zero Vault at Tianyuan Base to send over the 'Falling Star' codename credentials."

Zheng Baichuan was stunned for a moment.

Falling Star?

What Falling Star?

When did the Federation add such a codename?

But a Marshal's order needs no reason.

"Yes!"

Zheng Baichuan turned and ran toward the command ship.

Marshal Huo Tianxing withdrew his gaze and looked toward Su Ming and the others on the other side of the sinkhole.

...

At the same time, deep within a high-level ruin numbered X-7 somewhere outside the stars.

Under the dark purple sky, hundred-meter-tall silicon crystal trees formed a dense forest, with dark red light pulses flowing inside the crystals, like giant blood vessels inserted into the earth.

Two figures were fleeing rapidly through the forest, with over a dozen ten-meter-long Star Beasts in hot pursuit behind them, their roars making the crystal trees tremble.

The old man running in front wore a dusty gray long gown, his gray hair blown into a mess by the wind.

It was none other than the principal of the Zhennan Martial Arts Academy, Chen Changsheng!

He cursed while running, so angry that his beard bristled:

"Shen Hongyuan!"

"Didn't you say there were only low-level spiritual plants here?"

"A dozen Star Beasts have been chasing us for three days! I came here for archaeology, not to be an extra meal for them!"

Shen Hongyuan, running behind, had his dark gold combat suit covered in dust; the usually dignified and stern Marshal of Zhennan was now disheveled, yet his steps remained steady.

The gravitational field under his feet vibrated slightly, shaking the pouncing Source Beast into a stumble; he retorted without even turning his head:

"What are you yelling about! Who knew this bunch of things would go into heat all together today! They all crawled out from underground!"

"You, an old principal of a Martial Arts Academy, run faster than me, and you still have the face to yell?"

Chen Changsheng looked back and slashed out a Sword Qi, splitting the giant tree in front:

"Steady? Can being steady be eaten as a meal?"

"When that one behind opened its mouth just now, I even saw the meat in its teeth!"

The two rushed all the way to the end of the dense forest.

Shen Hongyuan backhanded to seal the spatial passage, while Chen Changsheng inserted his sword into the ground, dozens of sword lights rising from the rock layer and nailing into the feet of the pursuing Star Beasts.

The roar continued for over ten seconds.

The few big ones crashed until the crystal wall cracked, but ultimately failed to break through the blockade set up by the two.

Chen Changsheng leaned against the rock wall, tugging at his sleeve which was only half left, the more he looked, the more his heart ached.

"Rank 9 protective long gown."

"I've only worn it for the third time."

Shen Hongyuan ignored him.

There were no crystal trees inside the Secret Realm; the surrounding rock walls glowed with a pale gold luster, and high-dimensional energy flowed along the ground, rolling upward after passing over their combat boots.

As soon as their skin touched the energy, a fine stinging pain came.

Shen Hongyuan walked to the center of the Secret Realm and sat cross-legged.

Chen Changsheng saw his intention, his expression tightening.

"You plan to Breakthrough here?"

"The energy tide here is unstable; once the spatial layer collapses along with it, both of us will be buried inside."

"Can't wait anymore."

Shen Hongyuan closed his eyes.

The space Origin spread out from his body, and after contacting the high-dimensional energy in the Secret Realm, the surrounding rock walls emitted low groans one after another.

He had been stuck at the Rank 9 Peak for over a decade, and his Source Energy reserves had long exceeded the conventional Rank 9 limit.

What blocked him was not energy.

It was this body that still belonged to a carbon-based life form.

Flesh, bones, organs—every part had a carrying limit.

If he piled more Source Energy on, the first thing to burst would be himself.

He vaguely knew what was above Rank 9.

Having dealt with those lunatics from the "Tongyuan Society" for so many years, he had even personally killed a so-called "Silver Blood Speaker".

The "Silver Blood" that the Tongyuan Society relied on, extracted from high-dimensional exotic beast genes and forcibly catalyzed by evil arts and potions, was nothing more than a deformed, inferior product that had lost human reason!

It was mixed and superficial, having only the form of self-healing but not a shred of the divinity of life evolution; in the end, it was walking an evil path.

"My Source Energy reserves are enough."

Shen Hongyuan raised his right hand, watching the energy veins gradually lighting up under his skin.

"What's missing is the life structure."

Shen Hongyuan raised his right hand, and the energy veins under his skin lit up inch by inch.

He couldn't bring himself to ask a young kid, so he simply borrowed the high-dimensional energy of the Secret Realm to find a path of orthodox Silver Blood himself—starting from changing his blood.

The pale gold energy gathered toward him like a tide, and fine cracks soon appeared on the surface of his combat suit.

Chen Changsheng stood guard with his sword, brows locked tight:

"You'd better be sure. That group of Source Beasts outside hasn't left yet; if you blow yourself up, I won't be able to explain it to the academy."

"What are you afraid of."

Shen Hongyuan's voice was steady without a ripple,

"Once I cross this step, those outside will be perfect for testing my skills."

High-dimensional energy drilled through his muscles and skin along his pores, the veins on the back of his hands bulging, and the blood color rapidly faded from dark red to silver-gray.

The dull pain of bone marrow being recast crawled up his arm toward his chest, Shen Hongyuan's jaw tensed into a cold, hard arc, and sweat oozed from his forehead.

At this very moment, Su Ming's irritating smiling face popped into his mind.

"You brat... wait until I make my Breakthrough, let's see how you can still show off in front of me."

Chen Changsheng's eye twitched:

"You're about to impact beyond Rank 9, and you're still thinking about my student?"

"If it weren't for my daughter, could he have entered your Zhennan Martial Arts Academy? Keep dreaming."

Shen Hongyuan gritted his back teeth,

"If he dares to bully Qingci in the future, I'll break his three legs. Then I'll let him see clearly who is the elder."

The faint light of the Secret Realm fell on his face; this powerhouse, who was about to take the first step of the Federation's orthodox Silver Blood, didn't think about the Star Domain situation first, but instead calculated how to handle his future son-in-Law, with a hint of a smug smile at the corner of his mouth.

Chen Changsheng silently retreated behind the rock wall, rolling his eyes in his heart.

Usually, he acts like a living King of Hell, but the moment his daughter or son-in-Law is mentioned, he's like this.

A dignified Marshal who is a hopeless daughter-slave; he's really beyond saving!

...

Outside the Secret Realm, deafening beast roars came again, crystal fragments from the rock wall falling down, one piece smashing toward the top of Shen Hongyuan's head, only to be smashed into powder by the chaotic spatial layer before it could get close.

Shen Hongyuan didn't even open his eyes.

Deep in his Qi Sea, the last wisp of red blood completely condensed into bright silver.

The Source Energy around his body suddenly converged, sinking entirely into his bones and organs, the thousand-ton-level Physical Body density settled steadily, and the star core Origin in his chest emitted a low hum.

"Finally reached this step..."

He sighed softly in his heart.

"Evil path Silver Blood is ultimately a side door!"

"The true beyond Rank 9, orthodox life evolution, should be like this!"

"The world above Silver Blood..."

"Don't let me down!"