Stroll?

Within the star system, celestial bodies were densely packed, far exceeding the normal quantity.

Comets, asteroids, satellites, dwarf planets, gas giants, solid planets...

A single glance revealed a dense, crowded scene.

The youth strolled through the void as if taking a leisurely walk, brushing past celestial bodies, a faint smile on his lips.

"Finally, I see your full strength."

Back then, Yue Zhen crossed the sea of stars to hunt down Feng Boyong.

Although the entire video was compiled and edited by media with great powers, Yue Zhen never showed his face during the repeated clashes, only extending an iron fist, and at the last moment, he skillfully forced Feng Boyong out of the Azure Dragon Star System.

Without a doubt, Yue Zhen was holding back at the time.

Feng Boyong only killed Ding Yanfeng, yet he drew out Yue Zhen.

And the number he wanted to kill was far more than just one?

Naturally, he had to prepare in advance!

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated!

This time, personally visiting Ming Shuang, apart from submitting materials, the biggest purpose was to figure out Yue Zhen's true strength.

The Epoch Paragon Ranking was just an unexpected bonus.

"Epoch Paragon?"

Li Qingshan stroked the hilt of his Rayblade, a smile on his lips.

"Fellow cultivator, I hope you can control your hand and not reach out too far!"

At this moment, the number of "Quantum Star Nucleus" is 130 million.

Hard fists? Or sharp Rayblade?

Before the real fight, it was still an unknown.

But Tu Shen's investigation still needed time, and he still had a wave of "ransom" that he hadn't received...

Li Qingshan paused slightly, stopped his thoughts, looked at the Reconnaissance Star ahead, and his eyes lit up.

In distant orbit, a man and a woman also brightened their eyes and quickly greeted him.

"Minister Li!"

Lei Yao greeted him with a smile on his face:

"Minister Li's promotion is a great event! Today, Lei has come uninvited, I hope Minister Li will forgive me!"

"Director Lei is too polite, what crime is there?"

Li Qingshan waved his hand and nodded with a smile.

"Your Qiongqi Auction House is very thoughtful."

As he spoke, he looked at the woman next to him.

Compared to Lei Yao, her expression was much more tangled, her cold face twitching repeatedly, as if trying to squeeze out a smile.

"Director Ying of the White Marsh Auction House, right?"

Li Qingshan's smile bloomed, and he took the initiative to speak:

"I've admired your name for a long time, today I finally get to meet you."

Huff!

Ying Shilan breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, infected by the youth's smile, the expression on her face finally returned to normal, and she cupped her hands and said:

"Minister Li, you flatter me. My White Marsh Auction House congratulates Minister Li on his promotion..."

The plan has repeatedly gone bankrupt.

At this moment, she no longer had any arrogance, only seeking to befriend Li Qingshan as much as possible and restore the Chamber of Commerce headquarters' evaluation of her.

Fortunately, Li Qingshan didn't know about her previous plan...

Her thoughts were cut off halfway.

Ying Shilan's congratulatory voice became smaller and smaller, and she gradually couldn't continue.

At some point, The smile on Li Qingshan's lips had already fallen, his smile restrained, and he just nodded lightly.

"Mm."

Mm?!

Ying Shilan's expression was dazed, confused by this sudden change in attitude.

Clearly, he had just greeted her with a smile and said he had admired her for a long time.

Clearly, she was just offering normal congratulations, without any offense.

Could it be that Li Qingshan knew about her previous plan...

Just as Ying Shilan was caught between doubt and surprise, Beside her, Lei Yao's face twitched as he laughed inwardly.

Minister Li's "laugh"—did she really think it was a laugh?

One "I've heard so much about you" and one "finally"—they were clearly referencing the fact that White Marsh Auction House had only sent a secretary last time.

How could she not hear something so obvious and still offer congratulations?

Who congratulates someone empty-handed?

Nepotism!

In an instant, Lei Yao labeled Ying Shilan in his mind.

However, there was no contempt, but rather deep envy.

Although he himself was also a product of connections, if he were at Ying Shilan's level, he'd probably only be guarding the gate at Qiongqi Auction House.

For Ying Shilan to be in charge of White Marsh Auction House, her connections must reach the heavens!

"Congratulations on Minister Li's promotion!"

Casting a glance at the still-dazed Ying Shilan, Lei Yao flipped his hand and produced a Black Gold card, presenting it with both hands.

"The Rayblade's might shakes the stars. Minister Li's combat power has long surpassed the Eighth Order. This is our Qiongqi Auction House's Black Gold VIP card. Please accept it, Minister Li!"

Ying Shilan snapped back to reality and immediately followed suit, also producing a Black Gold card and holding it in her hands.

"This is our White Marsh Auction House's Black Gold VIP card. Please accept it, Minister Li."

"Black Gold VIP?"

Li Qingshan's gaze swept over the two cards, and he frowned, saying indifferently:

"Take them back. I don't like that title."

Didn't like it?

This time, Lei Yao was also stunned, and he quickly squeezed out a smile, explaining:

"Minister Li, as a cosmic behemoth, naturally doesn't need a card to enhance your image. However, the Azure Dragon Star System is vast, and gathering resources takes time and effort. It's really not worth Minister Li wasting your energy."

"This Black Gold VIP card comes with an exclusive account limit, which can be used at Minister Li's convenience."

By the end, he was practically spelling it out.

Associating it with the legendary "selfless devotion to public service," Lei Yao's smile gradually became more natural.

However...

"Giving gifts?"

Li Qingshan frowned even more deeply, asking seriously:

"Am I that kind of person?"

Lei Yao's smile froze on his face, completely dumbfounded.

N-no... am I wrong?

"You two have come from afar. Walk with me for a while!"

Li Qingshan shook his head lightly, put his hands behind his back, and turned to walk towards a satellite.

Walk?

Lei Yao and Ying Shilan exchanged glances, and could only put away their cards and obediently follow behind.

In a few steps, they had crossed the void and arrived on the surface of the satellite.

Hundreds of figures came into view at the same time, and the two were immediately stunned.

Of course, they recognized these people!

At the very least, they were all Seventh Order, all well-known figures in the Horn Sector, and also the group that had come to question Li Qingshan yesterday.

But at this moment...

Including several Eighth Order Black Gold VIPs, everyone had a bitter expression and none of yesterday's imposing manner.

Lu Ying, the Minister of Propaganda who was leading the group, was lowering his posture and smiling apologetically to Kong Yang:

"Secretary Kong, 50 million units of cosmic matter is really too much. Even if we empty our family fortunes, it will be difficult to gather..."

Lu Ying paused slightly, his eyes lit up as he looked at the arriving Li Qingshan and the other two, and he quickly approached.

"Minister Li, we are naturally willing to cooperate with the investigation, but... can you be lenient?"

"Of course!"

Li Qingshan smiled slightly, his dark gaze sweeping over Lu Ying.

"I wonder if Minister Lu is planning to send his arms back first, or his legs and feet, or..."

In the end, His gaze stopped between his neck!

Lu Ying's hair stood on end in an instant, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, his lips trembling as he said:

"Minister Li, rest assured, we will do our best, not a single bit less than 50 million units!"

"Thank you, Minister Lu, for your understanding and cooperation!"

Li Qingshan nodded with a smile, gently patted Lu Ying's shoulder, and turned to stride into space.

"Y-you're welcome, it's all as it should be."

Lu Ying's throat bobbed, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace, watching the young man's back recede into the distance.

Ying Shilan and Lei Yao silently watched the entire process, then flew to catch up.

The three strolled through the void, Li Qingshan not saying a word, occasionally glancing at and admiring the shooting stars streaking by, as if he really was just taking a walk.

However, Ying Shilan's heart was filled with extreme trepidation.

Killing the chicken to scare the monkey, shaking the mountain to intimidate the tiger, learning from past mistakes to avoid future ones...

One phrase after another flashed through her mind.

Ying Shilan's expression was solemn as she secretly glanced at the young man's back, increasingly unable to fathom Li Qingshan's thoughts.

Just then, Lei Yao suddenly gritted his teeth and broke the silence.

"Minister Li, my Qiongqi Auction House is willing to donate 10 million units of cosmic matter to help the Demon Subjugation Division with its construction."

Guess?

Was there even a need to guess?

This was clearly an open-book exam!

The answer was right there on the paper!

Minister Li was still so "devoted to public service,"

But what he wanted wasn't a Black Gold VIP card, but cosmic matter to melt the Quantum Star Nucleus!

Sure enough, The young man's footsteps suddenly halted, and he turned around, a smile blooming on his face.

"Then I, on behalf of the Demon Subjugation Division, thank Director Lei."

Lei Yao's heart bled, but he had no choice but to force a smile onto his face.

"It's as it should be, it's as it should be, Minister Li, as long as you're satisfied!"

10 million units of cosmic matter were worth at least a hundred times more than that Black Gold VIP card!

But...

The 50 million from earlier had set a "precedent," and he couldn't possibly offer less than ten million.

At this moment, he could only swallow his tears and accept it.

And Lei Yao's words also awakened Ying Shilan. Even though she couldn't believe the "answer" was so simple, she could only copy it now.

"Minister Li, my White Marsh Auction House is also willing to donate 10 million units of cosmic matter..."

"Thank you, Director Ying, for your support of the Demon Subjugation Division!"

Li Qingshan's smile widened even further, then he lightly tapped his forehead, as if remembering something, and said apologetically:

"I've just taken office and am swamped with official duties, and my office isn't ready yet, so I won't keep you two for tea."

Swamped with official duties?

The two exchanged glances, their gazes silently sweeping across the starry sky they had just "strolled" through, speechless, and could only bid farewell.

However, before leaving, Lei Yao was still somewhat unwilling, pausing in his steps and saying:

"Minister Li, the Epoch Paragon Cao Wuyan of the Taotie Cao Family contacted me before, and they are also a Pure-Blooded Taotie of this generation..."

"Director Lei!"

Li Qingshan's smile slightly faded, and he earnestly inquired:

"I wonder, how does this Cao Wuyan compare to Yue Zhen?"

"Yue Zhen?" Lei Yao was taken aback, then pondered and said:

"Cao Wuyan's breakthrough to the Eighth Order was almost a thousand years later than Yue Zhen's. Even with the blessing of their bloodline, I'm afraid it would be difficult..."

The corners of Li Qingshan's mouth turned up, his smile returning.

"Thank you, Director Lei, for the information. I'll keep it in mind."

"Uh..." Lei Yao's words caught in his throat, confused by Li Qingshan's attitude.

However, Li Qingshan had no intention of asking any further questions, and he could only bid farewell and leave.

"Another Epoch Paragon?"

Li Qingshan watched Lei Yao leave, gently shaking his head, not thinking too much about it.

Right now, the most important thing was the 70 million units of cosmic matter that he was about to get his hands on