156: Investment by Xinghai Chamber of Commerce?

"We won the defensive battle, so we're pushing straight into their home base?! That's awesome! I support this!"

"Say no more! Following His Highness Kraken, we will charge through mountains of blades and seas of fire!"

A wave of fervent support instantly engulfed the command room. Every general's face was brimming with the excitement and determination of rebirth after destruction!

Qin Zheng looked at the impassioned crowd and nodded heavily.

"Good!"

He commanded decisively:

"Immediately use this as the foundation to submit an emergency motion draft to the Highest Council: Topic—Integrate the globe, form the 'Scale Slaying Army,' march on a distant expedition, and counterattack the Shadow Kingdom!"

"Yes—!"

...On the battlefield, the smoke and chill had not yet completely dispersed.

Chen Feng slowly inserted the blood-stained Dragon-Patterned Vibranium Long Saber in his hand into the solid ice beneath his feet.

He raised his head and looked toward Su Chen's towering figure in the distance, which resembled an ancient mountain. His eyes burned with undisguised fervor and reverence.

"Indeed... as long as He is here, even the most desperate situation can be forcefully carved into a path of survival!"

Just then, a strange sound of flapping wings, seemingly stirring space itself, came closer from afar.

Chen Feng's pupils contracted, and he abruptly looked up at the sky!

He saw a faint, translucent giant bird slowly descending, heading toward their location!

"Enemy attack—!!!"

Without need for orders, the Shenxia Warriors, having been baptized in bloody battle, instantly entered combat readiness!

The fastest responding menshen mecha shoulder and back armor plates slid open layer by layer. The barrels of multi-barreled vibranium Vulcan Cannons suddenly popped out and rose like venomous snakes, their dense muzzles glowing with charging light, locking firmly onto the unidentified giant bird in the sky!

The soldiers gripped the vibranium battle sabers in their hands, and the Dragon Blood Warriors' vital energy began to surge around them. With just one command, a devastating strike would instantly pour out!

At this critical moment,

Su Chen's deep, calm voice clearly echoed in the ears of every warrior:

"Relax."

Those four brief words seemed to press a pause button.

All fingers about to pull the trigger, and all energy about to erupt, were forcibly halted at this moment. The warriors remained vigilant, but their gazes were fixed on their guardian god.

Su Chen slightly raised his massive head, his cold compound eyes looking at the giant bird that had landed not far in front of him, and the group led by Lan Xin who had disembarked from its back.

"How was it?"

Su Chen's voice revealed no emotion. "Are you satisfied with this performance?"

Lan Xin took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm as she met those giant eyes that seemed capable of seeing through souls.

She bowed slightly, her tone carrying unprecedented respect:

"I knew nothing could be hidden from you, esteemed Lord Kraken."

She raised her eyes, her beautiful gaze still holding an unshakable shock.

"In this battle, you and the Divine Summer warriors created miracles again and again, and repeatedly... overturned our understanding. Honestly, after witnessing you, we have begun to seriously doubt whether our guild's power evaluation system, used for tens of thousands of years, is still applicable to this Star Sea."

"Cut the small talk."

Su Chen's voice carried an undeniable chill, cutting straight to the core. "You are not natives of Blue Star. What is your purpose here?"

His gaze swept over Lan Xin and Aux and the others behind her. Invisible pressure surged forward like a tide.

"If your purpose is the same as that of the Shadow Scale Clan..."

His tentacles unconsciously churned the seawater beside him, creating currents.

"...then you should have clearly seen their fate."

"Please rest assured, Lord Kraken! We are absolutely not plunderers like the Shadow Kingdom!"

Deputy Aux felt a chill run down his spine as that gaze swept over him. He quickly stepped forward and explained in an urgent voice.

He had personally witnessed the terror of the existence before him and did not believe he could survive those tentacles.

He quickly activated the projection device in his hand, and a clear light screen immediately unfolded in the air, displaying a complex nautical chart and the Star Sea Merchant Guild's emblem.

Lan Xin picked up the conversation at the right moment, her speaking pace steady yet clear:

"Respected Lord Kraken, and all brave Shenxia Warriors. I am Lan Xin, Senior Executive of the Star Sea Merchant Guild's Exploration and Development Department. Our duty is to survey the potential value and threat level of every newly contacted plane, and to assess whether investment or cooperation is possible."

Seeing Su Chen's massive compound eyes narrow slightly, revealing a scrutinizing light, Lan Xin dared not delay and immediately continued to explain:

"The Star Sea Merchant Guild is a transcendent commercial alliance spanning numerous star fields across the Endless Sea. We do not belong to any nation or divine system; the only principle we adhere to is: 'Everything has a price, everything is tradable.' We are dedicated to discovering the unique resources, materials, and even... 'potential stocks' like yourself, in various worlds, for investment and cooperation, thereby accumulating wealth and knowledge."

"My purpose in coming to Blue Star this time was precisely to conduct a preliminary inspection of Blue Star, this nascent plane."

"A merchant guild?"

The Bearman King Enuoke frowned to the side, his massive bear paw pressing on the ice, making a dull sound. He asked in a booming voice, "Then what is the meaning of your appearance now?"

Hearing this question, an uncontrollable excitement instantly surged onto Lan Xin's face.

She stepped forward, her eyes burning as she stared intently at Su Chen:

"Because! Just now, I personally witnessed your astonishing, unprecedented, supreme potential, Lord Kraken!"

Her breathing quickened due to excitement:

"Lord Kraken, I hope to represent the Star Sea Merchant Guild and invest in you! All the resources required for your cultivation, the 'awakening stones' necessary to break through the shackles of the mortal body, and all kinds of rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures... our guild can provide them all for you!"

Her voice carried a strong temptation:

"As long as you cooperate with us, your strength is bound to undergo a qualitative leap! Your future achievements will be limitless!!"

"awakening stones?!" A terrifying sharp light suddenly burst forth from Su Chen's eyes.

"Master! With this item, you can hold the Awakening Ceremony and truly break the 100-level limit and step into the Awakening Realm!"

Enuoke's voice was full of excitement. He vigorously pounded his chest. "I, Old Bear, was lucky enough to complete my awakening and enter this domain only because of an awakening stone I dug out of a ruin back then!"

Hearing this, the fervent light in Su Chen's eyes grew brighter.

Although there was only one level difference between the 100th level (Mortal Realm) and the 101st level (Awakening Realm), the difference in strength was worlds apart, with attribute gaps potentially reaching tenfold!

If he could awaken, his strength would undergo an earth-shattering transformation, and his attributes breaking the million mark would be no exaggeration!

At that time, counterattacking the Shadow Kingdom would no longer be a risk, but a complete crushing!