A Walk?

The star system was packed with celestial bodies, far exceeding normal numbers.

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

At a glance, they were densely packed, crowded beyond belief.

The young man strolled through the void as though taking a leisurely walk through a courtyard, brushing past one celestial body after another with a faint smile on his lips.

"I've finally seen the full extent of your strength."

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

Although the all-powerful media had collected and edited footage of the entire pursuit, Yue Zhen had never shown himself during their repeated clashes. Only an iron fist had appeared, and in the end, it had pushed Feng Boyong out of the Azure Dragon Star System with perfect restraint.

There was no doubt that Yue Zhen had held back at the time.

Feng Boyong had only killed a Ding Yanfeng, yet Yue Zhen had been drawn out.

And Li Qingshan wanted to kill far more than one person.

Naturally, he had to prepare in advance!

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you could fight a hundred battles without defeat!

This personal visit to Ming Shuang, aside from submitting the materials, had mainly been to uncover Yue Zhen's true strength.

The Epoch Paragon Ranking had merely been an unexpected gain.

"Epoch Paragon?"

Li Qingshan rested a hand on his saber hilt, a smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Fellow Daoist, I hope you can keep your hands under control. Don't stretch them too far!"

At this moment, the number of Quantum Star Nuclei had reached one hundred and thirty million.

Would fists be harder, or would his saber be sharper?

Before they truly clashed, that remained unknown.

But Tu Shen's investigation would still take time, and there was another batch of "ransom" he had yet to receive...

Li Qingshan's steps paused slightly. He cast aside his thoughts and looked toward the Reconnaissance Star ahead, his eyes brightening.

In the distant orbit, a man and a woman likewise lit up at the sight of him and hurried over.

"Minister Li!"

Lei Yao wore a broad smile as he greeted him warmly.

"Minister Li's promotion is a joyous occasion of the highest order. Lei came uninvited today, so I hope Minister Li can forgive the offense!"

"Director Lei is too polite. What offense is there?"

Li Qingshan waved a hand and nodded with a smile.

"Your Qiongqi Auction House has shown consideration."

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the woman beside him.

Compared to Lei Yao, her expression was far more conflicted. Her cold face twitched repeatedly, as though she wanted to force out a smile.

"You must be Director Ying of the White Marsh Auction House?"

Li Qingshan's smile blossomed as he took the initiative to speak.

"I've long heard of your great name. Today, we finally meet."

Hoo!

Ying Shilan let out a breath of relief inwardly. Infected by the young man's smile, her expression finally returned to normal. She cupped her hands and said,

"Minister Li flatters me. The White Marsh Auction House congratulates Minister Li on your promotion..."

Her plans had failed time and time again.

At this point, she no longer possessed the slightest trace of arrogance. She only wanted to get on Li Qingshan's good side as much as possible and salvage the headquarters' evaluation of her.

Fortunately, Li Qingshan did not know about her earlier plans...

Her thoughts broke off halfway through.

Ying Shilan's congratulatory words grew quieter and quieter until she could no longer continue.

At some unknown point,

Li Qingshan's smile had already faded. He merely nodded lightly.

"Mm."

Mm?!

Ying Shilan was stunned, completely baffled by this sudden change in attitude.

Just moments ago, he had greeted her with a smile and said he had long heard of her name.

Just moments ago, she had only offered normal congratulations and had not offended him.

Could Li Qingshan know about her earlier plans...

While Ying Shilan wavered in uncertainty,

Lei Yao's face twitched beside her, while inwardly he was already laughing himself silly.

Minister Li smiled, and she actually thought that meant he was happy!

That "long heard of your name" and "finally meet" were clearly calling out the fact that the White Marsh Auction House had only sent a secretary last time.

It was that obvious, yet she still could not understand it and even cupped her hands to offer congratulations?

Who congratulated someone empty-handed?!

A nepotism hire!

In an instant, Lei Yao slapped that label onto Ying Shilan in his heart.

Yet he did not despise her. Instead, he felt deep envy.

Although he himself was also a nepotism hire, if Ying Shilan were really at this level, she would probably only be fit to guard the doors at the Qiongqi Auction House.

For Ying Shilan to preside over the White Marsh Auction House, her connections had to reach the heavens!

"Congratulations on Minister Li's promotion!"

After glancing at the still-dazed Ying Shilan, Lei Yao flipped his hand and took out a black-gold card, presenting it with both hands.

"Your saber's might shook the sea of stars. Minister Li's combat strength has long surpassed the eighth rank. This is the Black Gold VIP card of the Qiongqi Auction House. Please accept it, Minister Li!"

Ying Shilan snapped back to her senses and immediately followed his example, producing a black-gold card and holding it in both hands.

"This is the Black Gold VIP card of the White Marsh Auction House. Please accept it, Minister Li."

"Black Gold VIP?"

Li Qingshan swept his gaze over the two cards, frowned, and said indifferently,

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

He did not like it?

This time, Lei Yao was stunned as well. He hurriedly forced out a smile and explained,

"Minister Li is a colossus of the starry skies. Naturally, you do not need a card to enhance your status. But the Azure Dragon is vast, and gathering resources takes time and effort. It truly is not worth Minister Li wasting his energy on it."

"This Black Gold VIP card comes with an exclusive account credit limit, making it convenient for Minister Li to draw upon."

By the end, he was practically spelling it out.

Thinking of the legendary "devotion to the public good," Lei Yao's smile gradually became more natural.

However...

"A gift?"

Li Qingshan's frown deepened as he asked seriously,

"Am I that kind of person?"

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

No... he wasn't?

"You two have come from afar. Accompany me for a walk first!"

Li Qingshan gently shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned toward a satellite.

A walk?

Lei Yao and Ying Shilan looked at each other. They could only put away their cards and follow him obediently.

In just a few steps, they crossed the void and arrived at the satellite's surface.

More than a hundred figures entered their sight at once, leaving both of them stunned.

Of course, they recognized these people!

Every one of them was at least seventh rank, and all were renowned figures of the Horn Sector. They were also the group that had come to question Li Qingshan yesterday.

But now...

Including several eighth-rank Black Gold VIPs, every one of them wore a bitter expression, utterly devoid of yesterday's imposing manner.

Lu Ying, the director of the News Department and the leader of the group, was lowering his stance before Kong Yang and speaking with a flattering smile.

"Secretary Kong, fifty million units of cosmic matter is truly too much. Even if we emptied out our family fortunes, it would be difficult to gather it all..."

Lu Ying paused slightly. When he saw Li Qingshan's group of three descending, his eyes immediately lit up, and he hurried over.

"Minister Li, we are naturally willing to cooperate with the investigation. It's just... could you perhaps show some leniency?"

"Of course you can!"

Li Qingshan smiled faintly, his shadowy gaze roaming over Lu Ying.

"I wonder whether Director Lu plans to send his arms back first, or his legs and feet first, or perhaps..."

In the end,

His gaze stopped at Lu Ying's neck!

Lu Ying's hairs instantly stood on end. Fine sweat beaded across his forehead as his lips trembled.

"Minister Li, rest assured. We will certainly do everything in our power. Fifty million units, not one unit less!"

"Thank you for your understanding and cooperation, Director Lu."

Li Qingshan nodded with a smile, lightly patted Lu Ying's shoulder, then turned and stepped into space.

"N-No need to thank me. It's only what I should do."

Lu Ying swallowed hard and pulled out a smile uglier than tears as he watched the young man's back recede.

Ying Shilan and Lei Yao watched the entire scene in silence before flying after him.

The three strolled through the void. Li Qingshan did not say a word, occasionally looking around and admiring the shooting stars streaking past, as though he really were only taking a walk.

However,

Ying Shilan's heart was uneasy to the extreme.

Kill the chicken to frighten the monkeys, beat the mountain to shake the tiger, punish the past to forestall the future...

One phrase after another flashed through her mind.

Ying Shilan's expression turned solemn. She secretly glanced at the young man's back, becoming increasingly unable to fathom Li Qingshan's thoughts.

Just then,

Lei Yao suddenly gritted his teeth and broke the silence.

"Minister Li, the Qiongqi Auction House is willing to donate ten million units of cosmic matter to assist in the construction of the Demon Subjugation Division."

Guess? Did this even need guessing?

This was a goddamn open-book exam! The answer had already been laid out on the page!

Minister Li was still as "devoted to the public good" as ever.

But what he wanted was not a Black Gold VIP card, but cosmic matter to refine Quantum Star Nuclei!

Sure enough,

The young man abruptly halted, turned around, and smiled.

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

Lei Yao's heart bled, but he still had to force out a smile.

"It's only what I should do. As long as Minister Li is satisfied!"

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

But...

The fifty million just now had already set an "example." He simply could not bring himself to offer less than ten million.

At this point, he could only accept it through tears.

Lei Yao's words also jolted Ying Shilan awake. Even though she could hardly believe the "answer" was this simple, she could only copy it now.

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

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

Li Qingshan's smile grew even brighter. Then he lightly slapped his forehead as though recalling something and said apologetically,

"I've only just taken office, and official duties are keeping me busy. My office has not even been prepared yet, so I will not keep you two for tea."

Official duties were keeping him busy?

The two looked at each other, silently sweeping their gazes over the starry sky they had just "strolled" through. Left speechless, they could only bid farewell.

Before leaving, however, Lei Yao was still somewhat unwilling to let it go. He paused and said,

"Minister Li, Cao Wuyan, the Epoch Paragon of the Taotie Cao Family, contacted me previously. He is also a Pure-Blooded Taotie of this generation..."

"Director Lei!"

Li Qingshan's smile faded slightly as he asked seriously,

"I wonder how this Cao Wuyan compares to Yue Zhen?"

"Yue Zhen?" Lei Yao was taken aback. After pondering for a moment, he said,

"Cao Wuyan broke through to the eighth rank nearly a thousand years later than Yue Zhen. Even with his bloodline's enhancement, I'm afraid it would still be difficult..."

Li Qingshan's lips curved upward, forming a smile once more.

"Thank you for the information, Director Lei. I'll remember it."

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

However, Li Qingshan had no intention of asking further, so he could only take his leave.

"Another Epoch Paragon?"

Li Qingshan watched Lei Yao depart and gently shook his head, not dwelling on it.

For now, the most important thing was the seventy million units of cosmic matter that would soon be in hand...