"Yes, we've run into serious trouble."
Matthew nodded and began explaining.
"Although we have more than fifty billion people, we don't have an Eighth Order powerhouse guarding us. Naturally, our strength can't compare with the major powers of the Death Ring. So, for nearly ten thousand years, we've been hiding in the Tabert Shattered Star Belt, afraid of being discovered by other factions."
"Even though we've been extremely careful and concealed ourselves, never interacting with any faction except to trade at the Boundless Market, we were still discovered!"
"The ones who found us were Furnace City. Their leader is a powerful Eighth Order Lava Race life-form who calls himself Lord of the Furnace. He claims that the Tabert Shattered Star Belt falls within Furnace City's territory, and that since we live there, we must pay him tribute."
"He gave us one year to hand over one hundred thousand units of white origin crystals."
"During this period, we sold almost every valuable resource we had, but we still couldn't gather one hundred thousand units of white origin crystals. According to Lord of the Furnace, if we can't hand over one hundred thousand units within a year, he'll slaughter every last one of us!"
"Furnace City has driven us into a dead end. Fortunately, we met you, my lord! Ailin recognized that you were also part of the Cosmic Human Race, so she came to you for help with the last shred of hope she had. Otherwise, we would never have dared disturb you!"
Matthew's voice carried a hint of fear.
At the same time, it also held deep anticipation.
If this lord was willing to act, Lord of the Furnace would be annihilated with a wave of his hand!
"I understand." Lin Feng nodded, then asked a question that completely exceeded