172: Chapter 172 Blue Moon Federation Top-Level Meeting

Leaving the bedroom, Fang Zhuo headed straight for the bamboo forest by the villa and went directly to the Martial Arts Arena.

"The eighth stage of the Thunder Fire Blade. I've been practicing for over a week, but even with the calming and focusing effects of the Martial Arts Arena and the inspiration-sparking properties of this war drum, I still can't grasp the essence of the Move at all."

"It is a Move at the Flying Sky level, after all... It was already difficult starting from the seventh stage, and the difficulty has soared even higher at the eighth stage!"

"Now that I lack the thunder-fire source crystal, I can't combine it with the Martial Arts Arena to create that terrifying amplification effect of stepping on my left foot with my right. It's... difficult to master the eighth stage at the Superhuman level!"

Amidst the bamboo leaves filling the sky, Fang Zhuo moved his feet, occasionally swinging his blade.

The same principle applied to Body Control; due to his Life Level, after reaching Minor Achievement in Heaven-Reaching, it was somewhat difficult to break through again.

Previously, relying on the thunder-fire source crystal to master the seventh stage of the Thunder Fire Blade only slightly improved his Body Control, still some distance away from Major Achievement in Heaven-Reaching.

"The only good news is the condensation of the Life Core. Out of the eighty-one Source Pattern Flowers, I have already condensed fourteen. Now, I only need the last seven!"

Just as Fang Zhuo was thinking this, the tactical bracelet on his wrist vibrated violently.

Director Song?

Is the special training starting early?

Fang Zhuo frowned slightly, struggling with whether to answer.

When he met Chairman Song Shou two months ago, besides entrusting him with the backup Seed Project and giving him heavy responsibilities, Chairman Song Shou also mentioned a special training to prepare for the Civilization Assessment.

It was originally scheduled for the end of February, which is about now.

But at the time, considering the baby might have just been born and that he needed to be by his wife and child's side, he told Chairman Song Shou on the spot.

Chairman Song Shou changed the time for this reason, scheduling it for early April.

"Director Song?" Fang Zhuo didn't hesitate for long; when it came to the Civilization Assessment, he knew his priorities.

His wife and child could wait until the Civilization Assessment was successfully passed before he spent more time with them.

If the Blue Moon Federation's civilization was downgraded and its seven life planets became slave planets, then everything would be over, and he would only be able to take his family and flee into the Universe!

"Fang Zhuo."

In the video, Chairman Song Shou nodded with a solemn expression.

Fang Zhuo saw that besides Chairman Song Shou, himself, and the other three from the seed group, there were several more people in this video conference.

One of them was none other than a Cosmic Martial Artist he had glimpsed from afar at the Ocean Gathering: Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen of the New Moon Group!

His own group's Chairman Xiao was also there.

There were also a white Martial Artist and a black Martial Artist. Judging by their aura, they were likely Cosmic Martial Artists from the Future Group.

"Everyone, we are all here, so let's begin." Chairman Song Shou said in a deep voice.

"What is going on? Brother Song, please just tell us quickly." Director Xiao Yuan was the first to speak.

He was at a critical moment in his cultivation but had been forcibly summoned by Chairman Song Shou.

What could be so important?

The Cosmic Martial Artists in charge of the Three Great Warrior Groups were all present! This was a rare scene in the Blue Moon Federation; he couldn't recall ever seeing such a lineup!

Seeing Jiang Chen, Wang Jinhua, and Fang Zhuo in the video conference, it must be related to the Civilization Assessment?

"Director Song, has there been a change regarding the Civilization Assessment?" Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen asked proactively.

"The assessment rules have changed. They have been replaced by an assessment system of two Flying Sky Martial Artists and one Cosmic Martial Artist." As soon as Chairman Song Shou finished speaking, the expressions of the other eight people in the video conference changed simultaneously.

Even these eight people, whether they were Cosmic Martial Artists or the most talented geniuses of the current generation of the Federation, all had top-tier Heart-Nature!

"Brother Song, didn't you say you had confirmed this with the Civilization Management Office of the Red Water Empire?" The white Cosmic Martial Artist from the Future Group sounded somewhat agitated, as if he were questioning Chairman Song Shou.

"Two Flying Sky level assessment..." Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen muttered in a low voice, her brows tightly knitted together.

In her view, among the four most talented individuals of the current Blue Moon Federation, only Fang Zhuo had a chance to win the Superhuman assessment battle.

As for the remaining three, even Jiang Chen had little chance of winning against a Genius meeting the standards of a Level 3 civilization.

Takeuchi Reina and Wang Jinhua were both slightly weaker and even less likely to win a Flying Sky-level assessment battle.

With the Civilization Assessment changed to a system of two Flying Sky Martial Artists and one Cosmic Martial Artist, the Blue Moon Federation had almost no hope of maintaining its level...!

"It is indeed so. Before returning from the Red Water Empire, I went to the Civilization Management Office and met with Director Lan Feng. I slipped him 300 grams of red jellyfish fluid, and he confirmed it personally." Chairman Song Shou's expression was not looking good either.

Director Lan Feng... This person simply didn't take him seriously at all!

"Did he accept it?" Chairman Onni asked.

"Naturally."

"Damn it!" Chairman Onni from the Future Group punched the ground, venting the dissatisfaction in his heart.

Everyone was shocked.

Especially those in the Civilization Seed exchange group.

Fang Zhuo could clearly see that in the video feed of this white Cosmic Martial Artist from the Future Group, the walls were shaking violently, large chunks of stone were falling off, and a large cloud of dust was kicked up.

"If that's the case, then why would Director Lan Feng suddenly change the assessment system?" The other black Cosmic Martial Artist from the Future Group revealed a mouthful of white teeth.

"Bang—!"

At this moment, a loud noise came from the video conference.

Director Xiao Yuan also punched the ground. Everyone could see that black wind vortices were continuously spreading from the surface of his fist.

"That bastard Director Lan Feng!"

"He must have taken bribes from both sides and finally chose to abandon us, the soft persimmon."

Director Xiao Yuan gritted his teeth, his muscles trembling all over.

By this point in the meeting, Fang Zhuo had roughly understood.

Chairman Song Shou, as the representative of the Blue Moon Federation, went to the Red Water Empire (perhaps some powerful force in the Universe?), found someone from the Civilization Management Office, and used 300 grams of red jellyfish fluid to smooth things over, confirming the Federation's Civilization Assessment system: one Superhuman, one Flying Sky, one Cosmic Martial Artist.

But not long after, the other party notified them that the assessment system had changed to two Flying Sky Martial Artists and one Cosmic Martial Artist.

And the reason for this change was that the person from the Civilization Management Office, what was his name, Director Lan Feng, had received benefits from the other side?

It's just... who else would go to the Civilization Management Office to be so concerned about the Blue Moon Federation's Civilization Assessment?

Fang Zhuo only had to think for a moment to understand: it was a powerful Martial Artist in the Universe!

A powerful Martial Artist who was interested in the Blue Moon Federation and wanted to buy the Federation's seven life planets!

"The information implied by this change in the assessment system is very bad for us." Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen said, "It means our Federation has already been targeted by a powerful person."

"The other party is paving the way in advance. Once the Civilization Assessment ends and our civilization is downgraded, they can buy all seven of the Federation's life planets in accordance with the 'Universe Convention'."

"We will all become the other party's slaves."

When Chairwoman Zhao Nianzhen said this, her pretty face was gloomy to the extreme.

Once the Federation's seven life planets were acquired, even if she were a Cosmic Martial Artist, she would only be reduced to a slave of the powerful buyer, her life and death controlled by the other party.

Like her, a Cosmic Martial Artist who had adventured in the Red Water Star Domain, her identity information had long been recorded in the Civilization Management Office; she couldn't run even if she wanted to.

The Universe was so vast, yet there would be nowhere to hide!

"Fuck!"

The black Cosmic Martial Artist from the Future Group finally realized: "Director Lan Feng, damn it! That son of a bitch who eats from both sides!"