147: Chapter 147 Transdimensional Risk Assessment: Benefits s Risk B

Opening Climax:

The moment Lin Chen uttered the words "I want 51%," the air in the entire Hall of Samsara froze for three seconds.

Zhang Hao gasped. "Boss, this... isn't this a bit too ruthless? They only offered 49% originally. If we demand a controlling stake directly, will the Reformist Faction agree?"

Su Qingyu, however, looked thoughtful. "What they want is a lifeline, not charity. A controlling stake means we bear the primary risks and responsibilities—if we dare to ask for 51%, it actually proves we're confident in winning."

"Exactly." Lin Chen sat back in the main seat and swiped his finger across the holographic projection. "But before we take a controlling stake, we need to clarify one thing—"

The projection screen switched.

A complex multi-dimensional chart unfolded in the air. On the left side was a real-time battle map of the God Realm: the black area representing Abyssal Lord Grammer had already consumed a third of the God Realm's territory; the golden defensive line representing the Old God Court was retreating step by step; and the blue light dots representing the Reformist Alliance were moving covertly through the gaps in the battlefield.

On the right side of the chart was a dense stream of data:

· Estimated God Realm Faith Reserves: 2.1 trillion nether talismans (98 trillion before the war)

· Assessment of Existing Divine Combat Power: God King level 0, Main God level 4 (all injured), High God 37, Middle and Low Gods and Angel Legions approximately 1.2 million

· Abyssal Lord Grammer's Divinity Devouring Progress: 18% (For every 1% increase, estimated combat power grows by 7%)

· Remaining mobilizable resources of the Old God Court: Less than 3% of pre-war levels

This data was shocking enough.

But what made Zhang Hao's skin crawl the most was the row of pulsing red characters at the bottom of the chart:

【System Warning: Detected traces of high-dimensional observer intervention】

【Observer Identity: Multiversal Commercial Rating Agency "Scales of Truth"】

【Current Sovereign Credit Rating for the God Realm: CCC (Imminent Default)】

"Scales of Truth?" Zhang Hao read the name. "What on earth is that?"

"A universe-level 'S&P'," Lin Chen said calmly. "An organization specializing in credit ratings for various planes, pantheons, and even individual deities. They don't participate in any wars; they only do one thing—assess whether a faction is worth investing in and how high the default risk is."

He tapped his finger.

Detailed explanations expanded beneath the red text:

【Scales of Truth was established at the end of the Seventh Era by three retired Supreme Gods. Business scope: Inter-planar sovereign credit rating, risk assessment, M&A consulting. Fee structure: 0.01% of the subject's future returns as a service fee (if the assessment is accurate)】

【Summary of Current Assessment Report on the God Realm:

1. Political Stability: F (Imminent regime change)

2. Military Strength: D- (Unable to withstand current threats)

3. Economic Potential: A+ (Intact faith system, massive base of low-level believers)

4. Investment Advice: High risk, high reward. Professional investors are advised to intervene under the premise of proper hedging.】

"See that?" Lin Chen looked at Su Qingyu. "Even a third-party rating agency thinks the God Realm is nearly finished, but they also admit—as long as it survives this wave, the reconstructed God Realm has enormous potential."

Su Qingyu stared at the "A+" economic potential rating. "So the Reformist Faction' proposal was likely copied to the Scales of Truth as well. They want the 'capital' of the entire multiverse to know—the God Realm is currently a high-quality distressed asset, just waiting for someone to buy the dip."

"Smart." Lin Chen nodded. "Then we should conduct a formal assessment as well."

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

The samsara seal emerged from between his brows, rotating slowly. Simultaneously, the "Money System" within him—or rather, the manifestation of the Underworld's highest authority—began operating at full power.

The data stream on the holographic projection suddenly increased tenfold!

Countless pieces of information were forcibly extracted from the void, parsed, and reorganized:

· Abyssal Lord Grammer's home plane (destroyed)

· Detailed attribute list of the 137 divinities he had devoured

· Remaining coordinates of the Old God Court's treasury (three hidden divine domains)

· Individual debt situations of the 188 Reformist members (even an Archangel's 300-year unpaid debt to the God of Forging was listed)

· Even... the precise time Abyssal Lord Grammer's next "digestion period" would end: 6 days, 14 hours, and 32 minutes from now

These pieces of information intertwined in the air, finally condensing into a golden, shimmering report—

Underworld Group's Risk Assessment Report on Investing in the God Realm Reform Plan (System Generated · Top Secret)》

Melodramatic Plot Twist:

The report automatically flipped to the first page.

Overall Rating: Return S, Risk B

Zhang Hao rubbed his eyes. "Risk B? Boss, the God Realm is practically being dismantled, and the Abyssal Lord is going on a killing spree over there. How is the risk only Grade B?"

"Because the biggest risk isn't Grammer." Lin Chen pointed to the second page of the report. "Look here."

Page 2 Title: 《Analysis of Primary Risk Sources》

1. Abyssal Lord Grammer (Risk Level: A-)

· Threat Description: Possesses divinity-devouring capabilities; current combat power estimated at roughly 4.5 God Kings combined

· Hedging Strategy: Core weakness locked (see Appendix 3.7)

· Actual Threat: Moderate (Controllable)

2. Old God Court Remnant Forces (Risk Level: B+)

· Threat Description: Cornered beasts still fighting; may resort to extreme measures

· Hedging Strategy: Reformist Faction have infiltrated internally (61% infiltration rate)

· Actual Threat: Low-Moderate (Divisible)

3. God Realm Source Contamination (Risk Level: SS)

· Threat Description: Rule-level contamination left behind by the Void Devourer, having eroded the underlying laws of the God Realm

· Hedging Strategy: None (The samsara seal's purification module has an efficiency of only 0.3% against this contamination)

· Actual Threat: Extremely High (May trigger chain collapse)

Upon seeing the third item, everyone's expression changed.

"SS-grade risk..." Su Qingyu's voice tightened. "Two whole grades higher than the Abyssal Lord?"

Lin Chen didn't speak; he just clicked on the detailed explanation for "God Realm Source Contamination."

The report popped up a holographic video—not of the current God Realm, but a fragment from three thousand years ago:

In the footage, the "Mount of Gods" in the God Realm was still incredibly magnificent. But deep within the mountain, there was a black crack invisible to the naked eye. Viscous darkness constantly oozed from the crack, and that darkness, as if alive, slowly seeped into every law-vein of the divine mountain.

The voiceover for the footage was a note from the Scales of Truth:

【In Era 3975, the aftershocks of the decisive battle between the Void Devourer and the First Generation Underworld Lord tore the underlying laws of the God Realm, and the residual contamination continued to spread. The Old God Court adopted a "seal and suppress" strategy that treated the symptoms but not the cause. Over three thousand years, the contamination has spread to 87% of the God Realm's core area.】

【Contamination Characteristics: Erodes the concept of "existence" itself. The contaminated will gradually lose self-awareness and eventually become an extension of the void.】

【Current Contamination Outbreak Countdown: Approximately 1 year and 7 months.】

At the end of the recording was a scene of several old God Kings meeting in front of the crack. They argued and shifted blame before finally choosing to cover the crack with layer upon layer of seals—then announced to the outside world that the "contamination has been controlled."

"So..." Zhang Hao's voice was dry. "Those old fogies in the Old God Court knew the contamination was spreading three thousand years ago, but they kept it hidden? It's even possible... they lost the ability to fight it long ago and could only watch helplessly as the God Realm slowly died?"

"More than that." Lin Chen sneered. "Look at Appendix page 88 of the report."

He pulled up another set of data.

It was top-secret intelligence not written in the Reformist proposal, but captured by the system from the void information stream:

【The high-level officials of the Old God Court initiated the "Ark Project" 500 years ago.】

【Project Content: Secretly build three inter-planar escape ships, stockpile the God Realm's essence resources, and abandon all citizens of the God Realm when the contamination fully erupts, carrying the core God Race to escape to other planes.】

【Ark Construction Progress: 97% (Estimated completion in 3 months)】

【Known Boarding List: Direct bloodlines of 12 God Kings, direct relatives of 47 Main Gods, and... all high-level officials involved in the contamination concealment plan.】

Dead silence.

Even Su Qingyu clenched her fists.

"So the Abyssal Lord's invasion is actually a good thing for them?" Zhang Hao trembled with rage. "They can pretend it's a 'failure to resist foreign enemies' and then openly launch the Arks to escape! Leaving the mess to the lower-level deities and billions of believers who know nothing?!"

"What's more disgusting," Lin Chen pointed to the next page of the report, "is that someone among the Reformist Faction knows about this."

The report showed: Among the 188 Reformist members, 9 had relatives on the boarding list. Three of them had even obtained "backup boarding qualifications" themselves.

"So that business proposal..." Su Qingyu's voice was as cold as ice, "might also be a fallback for some of them? If we, the Underworld, intervene and succeed, they stay to become elders of the New God Court; if we fail, they just run off with the Arks?"

Lin Chen didn't answer.

He just looked at the last page of the report.

There, the system provided its final recommendation:

【Based on the above analysis, the following actions are recommended:】

【1. Immediately sign an investment agreement with the Reformist Faction (but with an added punitive clause: "Core members may not withdraw midway").】

【2. Before intervening in the God Realm's warfare, prioritize locking onto the "Ark" coordinates and seizing control of them (can be used as a bargaining chip).】

【3. For the SS-grade contamination risk, it is recommended to bring in third-party technical support—the best partner found: Technological Cultivation United Empire (this faction specializes in rule-level contamination management).】

【4. Overall Valuation of This Investment: If successful, the Underworld Group will become one of the top-tier powers in the multiverse; if it fails, the estimated maximum loss is 37% of total assets (bearable).】

【Final Recommendation: Do it!】

Thrilling Satisfaction:

The moment Lin Chen finished reading the report—

The entire Hall of Samsara suddenly began to vibrate.

It wasn't an earthquake, but some kind of higher-dimensional "resonance of laws."

The data on the holographic projection began to glitch wildly into garbled code, and countless fine black cracks appeared in the air—identical to the cracks of the God Realm contamination in the report!

"What's going on?!" Zhang Hao drew his blade and looked around.

Su Qingyu raised her hand to cast a defensive barrier, but as soon as the barrier formed, its surface was covered with black patterns.

Lin Chen, however, sat without moving.

He stared at those black cracks and suddenly smiled.

"As expected, it's here."

Just as he finished speaking, a cold, ancient intent, seemingly from the end of time, was forced into the minds of everyone present:

“Ants... dare... covet... the God Realm...”

The voice was intermittent, but every word felt like a heavy hammer striking the soul.

Zhang Hao groaned, and blood began to seep from his facial orifices.

Su Qingyu's face turned pale; her memories of her past life were forcibly activated by this voice—the painful memories of when the Netherworld Saintess was controlled by the contamination!

Only Lin Chen slowly stood up.

He looked up at the dome of the hall.

There, where the black cracks were densest, an eye slowly condensed...

An eye composed of pure "void."

The eye had no pupil or white, only a darkness that constantly devoured all light. The moment they were gazed upon, everyone felt that their very existence was being questioned, negated, and... erased.

“The Old God Court's... final... trump card...”

The eye emitted an intent:

“Three thousand years... of accumulated... curses...”

“Using this as a sacrifice... summoning... the Void Gaze...”

“Lord of the Underworld... your fate... ends here...”

Before it could finish.

Lin Chen raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

Snap.

A very soft sound.

But that eye suddenly froze.

Because in Lin Chen's hand, a contract had appeared at some point.

It wasn't a paper contract, but a covenant document composed of pure laws. At the top of the document was a line of bold characters:

《Notice of Termination regarding the Unilateral Cessation of the "Void Gaze Curse" Service》

"Who gave you permission to unilaterally send me a curse?" Lin Chen looked at the eye, his tone like he was scolding a service provider sending spam messages. "Did you have my consent? Did I sign a confirmation of receipt?"

The eye: "..."

"According to Article 337 of the Multiversal 'Basic Law of Information Dissemination'," Lin Chen continued, "unilaterally transmitting negative energy, curse information, mental contamination, and other harmful content without the recipient's explicit consent is an illegal act. The recipient has the right to demand the sender immediately terminate the transmission and compensate for mental distress."

He paused and added:

"The compensation amount will be calculated based on the duration I was gazed upon."

"Now, you've looked at me for... hmm, 4.7 seconds."

"Calculating at one million nether talismans per second for mental distress—"

Lin Chen flashed a professional smile:

"Please pay 4.7 million nether talismans."

"Cash or card?"

The eye was completely frozen.

Those black cracks began to tremble violently, not out of anger, but... a kind of chaos at the level of rules.

The intent it emitted was intermittent, filled with absurdity and grievance:

“This... is... impossible...”

“How can... a curse... be measured... with money...”

“But... the rules... actually... recognize it...”

On the surface of the eye, strings of golden numbers began to appear—the fundamental laws of the multiverse were forcing a settlement!

A "debt" of 4.7 million nether talismans was being written into the essence of the entity behind this eye (likely a certain old God King)!

If it didn't pay, its divinity would forever bear this debt mark, affecting any future transactions, promotions, or even faith absorption!

“You... win...”

The eye emitted one last grievance-filled intent, and then—

Bang!

It exploded.

It didn't dissipate voluntarily; rather, it was forcibly cut off by the entity behind it, who preferred to lose a portion of its essence rather than continue being extorted by Lin Chen using a "contract"!

The black cracks vanished rapidly.

The hall returned to tranquility.

Zhang Hao slumped to the ground, panting heavily. "B-boss... what was that just now..."

"The death throes of the Old God Court." Lin Chen put away the law contract. "They discovered we were assessing the God Realm and tried to use their final means to scare us off—summoning the Void Gaze, making any faction that dares to target the God Realm feel the fear of their very existence being erased."

He paused and smiled:

"Unfortunately, they forgot—"

"In the Underworld, I am the rules."

"And my first rule is:"

Lin Chen looked at the evaluation report with S-grade returns and B-grade risk, a look of determination flashing in his eyes:

"Anyone who wants to charge me a toll—"

"Must pay me first."

He turned to look at Su Qingyu and Zhang Hao:

"Notify the Reformist Faction."

"A 51% controlling stake is non-negotiable."

"And add one more thing—"

In Lin Chen's eyes, the name of the "Technological Cultivation United Empire" from the system report flashed:

"Tell them I also want to bring in a 'technical partner'."

"That mess in the God Realm needs a professional to clean it up."

Hook:

The moment Lin Chen made his decision—

The last line of the risk assessment report suddenly updated itself:

【New variable detected intervening】

【Variable Source: Technological Cultivation United Empire Multiversal Office】

【The other party has unilaterally sent an "Inquiry Letter of Intent for Cooperation"】

【Content of Inquiry: Heard you're looking for a partner who can handle rule-level contamination? What a coincidence, we just developed the seventh-generation "Concept Purifier" and are looking for a testing ground...】

【Other party's offer: Provide technical support for free, on the condition that—all "contamination residue" generated during the purification process belongs to us.】

Lin Chen looked at that line of text and remained silent for a full ten seconds.

Then, he laughed.

A laugh that made Zhang Hao's skin crawl.

"Reply to them."

Lin Chen said:

"The testing ground can be given."

"But for the contamination residue, I want a 30% cut."

"After all—"

"The God Realm is my asset now."