Changing the Guard

Nantianmen Project Team.

At this moment, at the core communication station, a man who looked to be in his early thirties had just finished communicating with the other end.

Not far from him were Lan Yuntian, head of the Nantianmen project team; Li Xingzhou; Qiu Yuyu, a sociology expert; and Zhao Shanhe, head of the National Defense Administration.

As for Xie Yusheng, who was originally responsible for communicating with that "Qianxing person," he was waiting in another room, seemingly unaware of what was happening here.

"That 'Qianxing person' made his request, hoping to obtain the repulsion shield and laser cannon technology from us. Since this was the first time we had used a different communicator to conduct a trial communication with him, I did not make any transactional demands."

The man smiled slightly as he spoke, "Overall, the exchange was successfully completed. The 'Qianxing person' did not show any change in emotion or attitude because we changed our contact person. He remained the same as always."

"This aligns with the conclusions reached by our Qianxing Social Structure Research Group. Just as many of our fellow countrymen cannot distinguish the differences in appearance between foreigners, the people of Qianxing also cannot discern the differences between us and those with whom we exchange information. Moreover, we have never actually met in person, so relying solely on voice, the so-called sense of familiarity and the establishment of a relationship between us is utter nonsense."

Qiu Yuyu said with a smile.

"That's good."

Although Li Xingzhou still had a cold expression, he didn't say anything more.

"The information I have allows me to communicate better with this Qianxing visitor. Even if some professional terms are involved in the conversation, I can respond immediately. In addition, I have several doctoral titles in social sciences and psychology, which allows me to better guide him when communicating with this Qianxing person, so as to obtain relevant technologies that better meet our requirements and satisfy us."

The man seemed to sense the dissatisfaction hidden in Li Xingzhou's heart and explained with a smile.

Li Xingzhou didn't say anything more, but turned around and walked out of the room.

After leaving the room, he walked through the corridor, glanced at Xie Yusheng in the opposite room who was there as a precaution but was now completely unaware of what was going on, and then looked away with a sense of guilt.

However, he hadn't taken two steps when Bai Xiangyang, also from the Nantianmen project team, approached him. Bai Xiangyang glanced towards the communications station and frowned, saying, "Old Li, what's the background of this kid named Zhao Qilin? He's directly taking over Xiao Xie's position to liaise with that Qianxing person? This is the most important position in our Nantianmen project team..."

"Yes, it's the most important position in the Nantianmen project team, and also the position where you can most easily achieve results. If that Qianxing person provides even one or two advanced technologies, he can be promoted and given a higher rank..."

Li Xingzhou glanced at Zhao Qilin, who was chatting with Lan Yuntian and Zhao Shanhe at the communications station, and then at Xie Yusheng, who knew nothing about it. "Just like this little guy, in just a few years, he went from a nobody with no background to a seventh-level public official."

Although a seventh-rank public official position still doesn't grant noble status, entry into the noble council, or elevation to a truly high-ranking position in the kingdom, this status...

He could easily become the deputy mayor of some small cities.

In a kingdom where power far outweighs money, this status and position are worth more than being a billionaire.

To be precise, if one can truly govern a region, even as a deputy, acquiring a fortune of hundreds of millions is still a breeze.

Even a level-eight public official could easily destroy a company worth over a billion dollars.

"So, this Zhao Qilin is just here to gain experience?"

"A second-level official, the son of Minister Zhao Changhong, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cabinet, what do you say?"

"Commander Zhao!?"

Bai Xiangyang opened his eyes wide.

Although this Chief of Staff Zhao has not yet been promoted to a first-level official, he is only fifty-five years old this year.

He was incredibly young in the officialdom.

And his background is even more astonishing.

Vice-President of the Noble Council, Duke Rongguo Zhao Tianfeng.

The Middle-earth Kingdom belongs to the Kingdom.

The council of nobles is above the cabinet.

To be precise, cabinets are all formed under the instruction of the noble council.

Therefore, whether or not someone is a first-level or second-level official is of no importance to those deeply rooted noble families.

The core power and resources of the entire kingdom have always been controlled by the noble council.

In the council of nobles, apart from the king who held military and political power and served as the speaker of the council, the highest-ranking members were the three dukes and one founding marquis.

Behind Zhao Qilin stood Zhao Changhong, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and behind Zhao Changhong was Rongguo Gong Zhao Tianfeng.

No wonder they could even interfere with projects like the Nantianmen project.

This is paving the way for Zhao Qilin.

If it weren't for the crucial importance of the position of the leader of the Nantianmen project team, this prodigy from the Zhao Family probably wouldn't have directly replaced Xie Yusheng, who held a core but insignificant position, but would have been parachuted in as the project team leader.

Even at the very least, he'd be a deputy group leader.

In other words, the other party has already given them a lot of face.

"It's good that you know. Don't say anything more. In the next few months, he will still be responsible for communicating with that 'Qianxing person'. If nothing unexpected happens, it's basically settled."

Li Xingzhou sighed.

Bai Xiangyang glanced at Xie Yusheng, who was in another room, looking completely unaware of the situation.

They didn't say anything more.

Even if Xie Yusheng is replaced in his position and gradually excluded from the core of the Nantianmen project team, his status as a seventh-level public official is enough to put him above countless others, so it's not a loss.

Once the Nantianmen project team is declassified, and he is transferred to a provincial-level meteorological station or observatory, he will at least be the second-in-command, or even the top leader.

"Alright, laser cannons and repulsion shields—these are the most cutting-edge technologies in the Nantianmen Chronicles provided by Xie Yusheng. We have already packaged and prepared the data for these technologies. Next, we will send them over. After that, Xie Yusheng's Nantianmen Chronicles can retire successfully."

Li Xingzhou said, "Hasn't he always wanted enough time to perfect his 'Nantianmen Chronicles'? It's perfect timing since he left the core team and the project team hasn't declassified it yet. He can study his game properly, and maybe one day in the future, he can actually release it."

Bai Xiangyang nodded and said nothing more.

What happens on Blue Star has been unknown to people Gu Jinlai.

After requesting that the laser cannon technology and repulsion shield technology be transmitted from Blue Star, he rushed to Muzhou as quickly as possible.

Upon arriving in Muzhou, and immersing himself in the scene, he activated the Qian Tian purple qi Technique, which made his observation of fortune even clearer.

Wherever the gaze falls, the surging fortune is truly like Mount Tai pressing down, threatening to completely engulf the entire Nanmu Prefecture, Dongmu Prefecture, and even Beimu Prefecture, which borders Lan Prefecture.

Especially...

Very strong!

The Demonic Beasts energy that spread from the Three Thousand Great Swamps is very strong!

Its intensity is more than twice that of the Qi Yun (energy flow) south of the Milky Way!

When they went to war with the Demonic Beasts of Muzhou, their side's luck strength was more than three times that of the Demonic Beasts of Muzhou.

"Luck is not absolute. At least, the increase in luck from war Spirit Artifact is not as significant as imagined. Luck depends more on people's confidence in battle, which is more of an idealism."

It has been on my mind Gu Jinlai.

He arrived at the command post with Zhou Yi and Zhang Lihuo.

Before the Primordial Spirit True Lord and Demon God Warriors, who were either on the scene or contacting each other through the Thousand-Mile Light and Shadow Mirror, could speak, he said directly, "Organize a full retreat first and temporarily abandon Nanmuzhou! The Demonic Beasts in the Three Thousand Great Swamps are mainly amphibious, and they need some time to adapt to the environment of Muzhou. This gives us an opportunity."

"Yes."

A series of shouts echoed from the Thousand-Mile Mirror of Light and Shadow.

Fang Linghai, the Palace Master of Lengyue Palace, suggested, "Palace Master, to the south of our Muzhou lies the Three Thousand Great Swamps, which stretch for tens of thousands of miles. But beyond the Three Thousand Great Swamps lies a famous holy land of mankind—the Cangshan Holy Land! We can send envoys to unite with the Cangshan Holy Land and launch a pincer attack against the Three Thousand Great Swamps."

"The Sacred Land of Cangshan? This force is not to be underestimated."

Lu Zhanxian frowned. "Back when the Boundless Holy Land was destroyed, the Cangshan Holy Land, fearing the power of Qiantian, came to establish diplomatic relations. However, since the two sides were separated by the Three Thousand Great Swamps, and the Qian Emperor at the time felt that the territory of the Great Qian had expanded three or four times in an instant and needed time to digest it, he chose to coexist peacefully with the Cangshan Holy Land. But a hundred years ago, when Qiantian was in great chaos, they sent several powerful figures to spy on us... Of course, at that time, the Abyss Lord had not yet disappeared and the remaining power of the True Person was still there. After learning that several Land True Immortals had almost shattered the Rizhou land with the power of their divine weapons, they immediately retreated... If we contact them now, we might be taken advantage of later."

Upon hearing what Lu Zhanxian said, Fang Linghai opened his mouth as if to say something.

But in the end, they were powerless to refute it.

Gu Jinlai, Gu Jinlai said in a deep voice, "I will consider whether to contact the Cangshan Holy Land. As for now... what about the specific information about the Three Thousand Great Swamps?"

"The intelligence is stuck more than a decade ago. In that time, the power of the demons in the Three Thousand Great Demonic Beasts must have expanded considerably, so it's not very useful for reference."

Fang Linghai said.

Cold Moon Palace is one of the closest forces to the Three Thousand Great Swamps, but due to the obstruction of Muzhou, the two sides have basically lost contact.

They couldn't produce any useful intelligence, let alone other forces.

"If we have no intelligence, then we'll investigate ourselves! It'll be a good opportunity to test our new weapon!"

Gu Jinlai.

Zhang Lihuo knew what the new weapons that people Gu Jinlai were.

In reality, it doesn't involve much technology.

It is a high-energy explosive refined based on the original gunpowder and with reference to the Celestial Master's weapon-making techniques.

In Gu Jinlai terms, they are called aerial bombs.

Over the past few months, two of the eight Xuanbird fighter jets have been converted into early warning aircraft, and two have been converted into manned aircraft.

Two more were also converted into bombers.

"Although the Demonic Beasts in the Three Thousand Great Swamps are mainly amphibians, we still need to be careful of Demonic Beasts king-level demonic birds."

Zhang Lihuo said, "Elder, we should first ascertain the enemy's strength before proceeding with the bombing."

"I see."

Gu Jinlai nodded.

Using the method of manifesting True Spirit, four True Spirit were separated, each piloting two air combat fighters and two bomber fighters, soaring into the sky and heading straight towards Nanmuzhou.