146: Chapter 146 Need materials? Then borrow some!

"This thing is a genuine product of high-dimensional technology, monopolized by those few super civilizations at the center of the universe. With Black Iron Star's current industrial mother machines, even if we had the blueprints, we could absolutely never build such a monstrous engine!"

Without a Star Core, this Nebula-class Star Destroyer, which is a thousand years ahead of Earth's technology, is just a large, hollow coffin that cannot even fly out of this galaxy.

"Can't build it?"

"If we can't build it, then we'll go buy it. Problems that can be solved with money are never real problems."

"We can't buy it."

Ancient Sword Soul shook his head with a bitter smile. "I had my intelligence network check. In the entire Chaotic Star Sea, only the Interstellar Black Market Alliance—the largest power that spans over a dozen galaxies—has stock, and they only have three spare ones."

"It is said that those are top-tier tributes that the Black Market Alliance is preparing to present to a big shot in the Higher Star Domain next month; they are not for sale to the public at all."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Lin Yuan finally put down the teacup in his hand.

Not for sale? And they kicked our people out?

"Since they don't want to do business properly..."

Lin Yuan stood up and straightened his black trench coat. "Then we'll just have to use some unconventional 'begging' methods."

As it turned out, Lin Yuan didn't even need to go "begging" in person; the trouble had already come knocking on his door.

Rumble—! Just half a day later.

An extremely luxurious diplomatic starship arrogantly tore through Black Iron Star's atmosphere, ignored the New Yanhuang Base's airspace control, and hovered above the command post.

The ship's hatch opened, and an alien envoy with a cultivation level as high as the Sixth-Rank Peak slowly descended, flanked by two rows of fully armed guards.

He had no awareness of being a guest; instead, he acted like a king inspecting his territory, looking down condescendingly at the entire new base that was under bustling construction.

"So you are the new master of Black Iron Star?"

"I come representing the great Interstellar Black Market Alliance."

The envoy stood with his hands behind his back and sneered repeatedly. "I heard that you bunch of nouveau riche natives, who popped out from who knows what corner of the universe, want to buy the Stellar-class Star Core our Alliance is preparing to present as tribute?"

"Buy? Do you even deserve to?!"

The envoy suddenly emphasized his tone, releasing his pressure without reservation, attempting to give Lin Yuan a show of force. "However, the spiritual energy on Black Iron Star has surged strangely recently. Even a blind man could see that some incredible treasure must have appeared here."

"Obediently hand over that treasure capable of altering the planet's spiritual energy, as well as the mining rights to the top-tier Origin Crystal Vein, and gift them all to the Black Market Alliance for free!"

The envoy pointed his finger arrogantly at Lin Yuan's nose. "The Alliance Leader said that as long as you do as instructed, the Alliance can spare your lives and mercifully allow you to remain on Black Iron Star to work as mining slaves for us!"

Inside the base, the Asura Army soldiers who were previously moving armor plates all stopped what they were doing and stared in unison at the death-seeking hunk of metal in mid-air.

Meanwhile, on the throne, Lin Yuan didn't even lift an eyelid. He finished the last sip of spiritual tea and then placed it gently on the table.

"I originally just wanted to buy an engine to properly build my ship."

"If you don't want to sell, fine, but why come to my doorstep to rob me?"

He tilted his head slightly and glanced at Dragon Battle, who was standing by the throne.

"Dragon Battle."

"Show them out."

"You got it!!!"

Dragon Battle, who had long been holding back with eyes burning red, let out a wild roar like an ancient beast!

Boom!!! He didn't even leave a shadow behind! The platform beneath his feet was instantly crushed into powder!

"How dare you?! I am the Alliance envoy... Puh-wah!!!"

Before the envoy could finish his sentence, Dragon Battle's fist, carrying a terrifying sonic boom capable of destroying mountains, slammed into the energy shield! There was no suspense whatsoever! Faced with Dragon Battle's pure, monstrous strength fused with ancient bloodlines, the shield didn't even struggle before exploding into a sky full of light spots!

"Ah!!!" Amidst the envoy's desperate screams, Dragon Battle grabbed his right arm and violently twisted it in the opposite direction! The envoy's limbs were twisted and broken by Dragon Battle as if he were wringing a towel!

"Get lost!!!" Like he was throwing a dead dog, Dragon Battle grabbed the envoy by the neck with one hand and violently smashed him back towards the ship above!

Bang! The envoy's body smashed directly through the ship's hatch, landing on the deck, life or death unknown.

The guards on both sides were already so scared they were wetting themselves; they scrambled and crawled back into the ship, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Lin Yuan sat on the throne, not even glancing at the trembling ship in mid-air.

"Go back and tell your Alliance Leader."

"I want all three of those Star Cores. I'm not buying them anymore; I'm going to go take them."

A few hours later, when the diplomatic ship escaped back to headquarters with the envoy, whose limbs had been crippled, the top brass of the entire Black Market Alliance was absolutely furious!

"Arrogant! This is simply seeking death!!!" The Alliance Leader slapped the black iron table in front of him, shattering it.

As a behemoth force that ruled over a dozen surrounding galaxies and was shown respect even by the Higher Star Domain, when had they ever been so humiliated by a native from a backwater mining planet?!

Not only did he cripple the envoy, but he also threatened to come to headquarters to rob the three tribute Star Cores?!

"Pass on my order! Issue the highest-level Extermination Order across the entire Star Sea!!!"

The Alliance Leader's eyes were bloodshot; it wasn't just anger, but extreme greed for the aura of the top-tier Origin Crystal Vein leaking from Black Iron Star. "Mobilize the entire nest! Contact the seventeen large mercenary groups in the vicinity immediately! Activate all interstellar battleships!"

"Wipe Black Iron Star completely off the cosmic map for me! Kill all the men, sell the women to the red-light district! That top-tier Origin Crystal Vein belongs to our Alliance!"

With the issuance of the highest-level Extermination Order, the entire Chaotic Star Sea was completely set ablaze.

Wealth moves people's hearts, let alone a legendary top-tier Origin Crystal Vein.

The surrounding warlords, pirates, and mercenaries all had their eyes burning with greed.

Over a thousand massive interstellar battleships, along with the mecha divisions of over a dozen large mercenary groups, marched at full speed toward the coordinates of Black Iron Star like a swarm of locusts!

The silence before the storm was completely shattered by this torrent of steel, capable of destroying heaven and earth!

"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep—!!!" Inside the command post, the holographic radar issued a highest-level red alert.

On the giant projection screen, dense clusters of red dots, resembling a swarm of bees, were rapidly approaching the outer atmosphere of Black Iron Star in a faster-than-light curvature flight state.

That oppressive feeling of blocking out the sky was enough to make any commander who had experienced interstellar war feel despair.

"Cap... Captain..." Looking at the scalp-numbing number of enemy forces on the radar, Ji Hongyi's beautiful face showed unconcealable tension.

"Over a thousand interstellar battleships, plus at least one hundred thousand combat mechas..."

"The planetary protective array we just set up probably won't even be able to withstand three rounds of their main cannon salvo."

"If it can't hold, then dismantle it. What's the use of a turtle shell that only knows how to take a beating?"

Lin Yuan slowly stood up from the throne. He didn't have a trace of panic; instead, he stretched lazily.

Then, he walked with long strides toward the door of the command post, looking at the tens of thousands of Asura Army soldiers outside, whose eyes were already flickering with battle intent.

"Let's go."

"Asura Army, assemble!"