253: Kill the chicken to scare the monkey!

He launched a lightning-fast military campaign, quickly occupying several important industrial and transportation hubs.

A sudden armed rebellion brazenly erupted.

This news instantly overshadowed the auction, completely tearing apart public opinion in the New Federation, and the shadow of civil war once again loomed.

At the Peak of the White Tower in Kunlun Base.

Lin Qianqian placed a crimson emergency battle report in front of Su Lei, her voice tinged with anxiety: "Zhao Qingtian has rebelled."

"He has integrated the three armies of the five cities in the Southeast, formed the Southeast Alliance, cut off eastern communications, and is now gathering his forces against us under the pretext of 'cleansing the ruler's side'.

Should we immediately send troops to suppress the rebellion?"

However, Su Lei calmly read the battle report, then casually tossed it aside, as if it were a trivial matter.

"Just a clown, no need to bother with him."

"What?"

Lin Qianqian thought she had misheard.

"The auction will proceed as scheduled."

Su Lei's eyes were deep: "I'd really like to see if this General Zhao, this 'Army of Justice', truly has the guts to march right to my doorstep."

The auction proceeded as scheduled, a gathering of prominent figures.

Representatives from various forces converged.

However, this century-defining auction ultimately ended in what was almost a farce.

The reason was simple: Su Lei never intended to sell.

He used the Venerable's Clone as a living lie detector.

With his transcendent Divine Soul power and the terrifying computational ability of the crown of wisdom, he silently and imperceptibly probed the true thoughts of every bidder.

Who was a true fellow seeker for civilization, who was an ambitious schemer with ulterior motives, and who was an insider colluding with dark forces—everything was laid bare.

In the end, the Venerable's Clone was sold at a symbolic price to the Federation Academy of Sciences, represented by Dean Li.

When the result was announced, countless forces were greatly disappointed, yet no one dared to object.

Because the moment the auction ended, the representatives of three of the most aggressive Hidden Families were immediately taken away by Li Xue凝 and Oriental Shuo, who had been waiting, on charges of colluding with rebel organizations.

Killing the chicken to scare the monkeys!

Everyone understood that this so-called auction was, from beginning to end, a grand political screening show personally directed by Su Lei.

These self-proclaimed hunters were merely prey manipulated in his palm.

And that formidable army of the Southeast Alliance stopped its advance five hundred kilometers from Kunlun Base.

Zhao Qingtian, in the end, did not have the guts to truly attack.

His 'cleansing the ruler's side' was nothing more than a complete political opportunism.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated.

Su Lei had never truly regarded him as a threat.

Ultimately, this rebellion was peacefully resolved after the New Federation dispatched a newly promoted Grandmaster for friendly negotiations, with Zhao Qingtian voluntarily relinquishing his military power and integrating into the New Federation's structure.

A crisis that could have sparked a civil war was averted in its infancy.

At the Peak of the White Tower.

Su Lei looked at the list of 'fish' submitted by Lin Qianqian, a satisfied smile on his face.

All his objectives had been achieved; all unstable elements had been exposed in this open scheme, and what awaited them was the New Federation's most thorough purge.

As for Venerable Tianhe, after suffering such an immense humiliation, he would inevitably resort to more aggressive retaliation, which was exactly what Su Lei wanted.

At that moment, space behind him rippled, and the figure of Queen Astrea appeared.

"Well done."

For the first time, a genuine look of approval appeared on her face: "A fake auction, and you've clearly distinguished friends from foes, while also conveniently resolving an internal conflict."

"Much more astute than that brute Tianhe, who only understands brute force."

Su Lei turned to look at her: "Now, it's your turn to fulfill your promise."

"Naturally."

The Queen nodded: "The third cornerstone of civilization, the Eternal Furnace, is not on this planet."

"It is in a Forbidden Ground that you humans have long forgotten."

With a wave of her delicate hand, a three-dimensional star map constructed of starlight slowly unfolded, revealing a massive celestial body emitting an ominous dark red glow, drifting alone.

"Purgatory."

The Queen uttered a name filled with the scent of blood: "A mobile interstellar prison built with everything from the last epoch.

It has its own internal space, holding the most vicious criminals, monsters, and the failures who survived the final cataclysm.

They devour each other in that dark world, having long since turned into madmen with only the instinct to kill.

The Eternal Furnace is the core that maintains the operation of that prison, located in its deepest reaches."

Su Lei's eyes darkened; the difficulty of acquiring this third cornerstone was exponentially greater than the first two combined.

"That doesn't sound like a good place to go."

"Of course."

The Queen smiled gleefully: "So, to show my sincerity, I'll give you a gift."

In her hand appeared a rhomboid crystal shimmering with an icy blue light.

"A spatial coordinate locator, one of the core technologies of our Valkyrie Empire, which can help you precisely pinpoint the moving Purgatory."

Su Lei took the crystal, feeling the subtle spatial Law contained within it.

"Furthermore…"

The Queen smiled mysteriously: "Considering you're embarking on a long interstellar expedition, you might need more reliable helpers."

She snapped her fingers.

The next second, twelve tall figures in silver-white battle armor, holding ice crystal scythes, appeared like ghosts behind her.

Each female warrior exuded the terrifying aura of a Peak Great Grandmaster, with only absolute loyalty and indifference in their eyes.

They were the Royal Guards, modified by the Queen using her own essence blood and the Empire's core technology, ultimate killing machines.

"They are yours from now on."

The Queen said: "I hope they will be of some help to you in Purgatory."

After receiving the Queen's gift, Su Lei returned to the New Federation with Li Xue凝, Oriental Shuo, and the twelve Royal Guards.

His return stirred up a silent storm.

All forces and ambitious individuals exposed during the turmoil vanished overnight.

A major purge led by Su Lei, in a subtle and imperceptible manner, completely reshaped the New Federation's high command.

For the first time, the entire New Federation truly united as one, under the absolute will of a single individual.

After resolving all internal threats, Su Lei began his first task after returning: an unprecedented, ultimate transformation of Kunlun Base.

In the highest research center, Su Lei, Dean Li, and hundreds of top scientists faced the magnificent blueprint projected by the crown of wisdom.

At first sight, everyone was struck by a prolonged awe, as if witnessing a miracle.

"Is this, is this truly a technology we can achieve?"

Dean Li's voice trembled.

"Yes."

Su Lei said calmly: "The theories, I provide. The technology, supported by the Valkyrie Empire. The energy, I have. Now, I need you, within half a year, to make it a reality."

This seemingly impossible task was now questioned by no one.

Because they all saw in the blueprint the future of human civilization reaching for the stars and the sea.

For the next half year, Kunlun Base transformed into a colossal super construction site.