Change

In the Virtual Universe's Nine Star Bay, Chen Qing stood at the door and looked into the distance. The scenery here hadn't changed in decades, giving him a feeling of time standing still.

"Why didn't you come over?"

Jiang Fang's gentle voice startled Chen Qing awake. Looking at the two beauties of completely different styles, Chen Qing smiled and spread his arms.

The two women exchanged a glance, then graciously leaned into his embrace, resting their heads on his shoulders.

"What kind of bad thoughts are you cooking up now?"

Yao Rao's voice lingered by his ear, making Chen Qing's heart feel like a kitten was scratching at it. He couldn't help tightening his arms.

"I just want to hold you forever, like this scenery!"

Not even a hint of body fragrance—giving the Virtual Universe a bad review. If I get a chance, I'll suggest it to the City Lord!

Jiang Fang tilted her head and looked at Chen Qing, a bit amused. "You've only been in seclusion a few days, and it's already worn you down like this?"

"Just speaking from the heart. But didn't you two just finish cleaning up Purple Mist Planet? What's so urgent?"

"Don't mention it—I almost forgot the main thing. Little sister is still waiting!" With that, the two quickly broke free, grabbed Chen Qing's hands, and pulled him outside.

Arriving at Luo Feng's house, Hong and Thor were already sitting there waiting. Besides Xu Xin, Luo Hua was also there keeping them company.

It had to be said, compared to over a hundred years ago, Luo Hua had changed quite a bit. Chen Qing had even wondered back then whether he should try to make an impression on him.

Seeing everyone had arrived, Xu Xin invited them to sit down, then her crisp voice rang out.

"The reason I called everyone together so urgently is twofold. First, Krachi contacted the company and wants to give Purple Mist Planet to us. Second, a senior executive from the head company found me and asked what our purpose was in investigating the Fire Phoenix Organization. What do you all think?"

With that, her eyes went straight to Chen Qing. Not just Xu Xin—everyone else turned to look at him in unison.

What a mess this is! Chen Qing's hand unconsciously went to the table and tapped lightly.

Luo Feng's cycle mission wasn't arranged until decades after he went external, right? Forget whether Luo Feng would choose to come back now—which genius didn't spend a few thousand years in the secret realms?

With the Virtual Company's capabilities, there's no way they'd be targeting the Fire Phoenix Organization this early! Or is it because I stirred things up, and now someone higher up in the company has taken notice?

Damn it. I'm only a Domain Lord at the third stage. Am I supposed to charge in now?

Panxi would be fine—his plant lifeform is at the World Lord peak, and it's so huge. Don't let me charge in and get myself wiped out!

But one thing Chen Qing was certain of: the Virtual Company wouldn't back the Fire Phoenix Organization.

"Sister-in-law, if the head office asks, just tell them straight. The company manages such a huge clan—there's no need to worry about where they stand!"

Xu Xin nodded. "I think so too. The executive said if we need help, they can assist."

"Whoa, so we've got people up top?" Thor let out a strange shout, startling Chen Qing.

"Second brother, be serious. I don't have anyone up top!"

Unfortunately, no one believed Chen Qing's words. After all, this was a bit suspicious—they'd looked the other way for tens of thousands of years, but the moment he made a move, they suddenly couldn't stand it?

Hong frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed. Wasn't he himself trusting Chen Qing enough to come back? It wasn't a bad thing, so why worry?

Chen Qing ignored Thor's goofy expression but had nothing to say. Finally, Jiang Fang spoke up with righteous authority.

"It shouldn't be him. With how thick-skinned he was borrowing money back then, if he had connections, he wouldn't have treated himself so badly!"

"..."

"Whatever the case, as long as it's good news, that's fine. Sister-in-law, you called us here—there must be something else, right?"

Hearing Hong's question, Xu Xin nodded. "Before, we discussed just getting the mining business and throwing the rest out to distract the local forces.

Now that the head company has given a clear hint, the team suggests bringing in the Ganwu Commerce Department. Then we can sweep the place clean!"

As Xu Xin made a sweeping gesture with her hand and slowly clenched her fingers, everyone understood what she meant.

"I don't care either way. As long as there's a fight, I'm in!"

"I don't care either. Just give me Panxi, and—hiss!"

Chen Qing grabbed Yao Rao's little hand and quickly changed the subject. "As for Purple Mist Planet, Big Brother, you guys took it down. If we don't take it, we're just wasting it!"

Seeing Xu Xin look at him, Hong's eyes flickered with the images of those natives.

"If there's no negative impact, take it."

"Big Brother, rest assured. The Field Family's people are still too conspicuous in Cuilang Star Sector. We were planning to buy a life planet as a base ourselves. This works out perfectly!"

"Good. Do as sister-in-law says. But as for Fourth Brother..."

"Help me stall for time. I still need a bit more. After all, he's a third-stage World Lord!"

Hong's teeth ached at that. The three women all rolled their eyes. How dare he call someone else a World Lord, when he didn't even look at how old he was himself.

It was only because everyone trusted each other that they didn't call him out directly. Honestly, saying he had people up top would've been easier to explain!

Luo Hua, sitting to the side, looked around before quietly adding a remark.

"We could actually start with harassment first, then follow up with financial pressure. The Fire Phoenix might be an illegal organization, but it's deeply entangled with the forces in Cuilang Star Sector. There's plenty of room to maneuver."

After arranging everything and spending a little more time with the two women, Chen Qing logged out of the Virtual Universe. The moment he did, his face darkened.

Repeatedly recalling the events of the past few years and comparing them against his own memories, he found no discrepancies or omissions.

Whether there was someone above him, he knew himself—Luo Feng was about the same! He was still doing missions in the Xueluo World!

And to bypass the Ganwu Branch entirely, with a direct order from above to look after him—setting aside the Ganwu Universe Lord, it definitely meant they didn't take the Commerce Department's Purple Lightning Marquis seriously at all!

That meant at least King-Rank. In the original story, the Ganwu Universe Kingdom had no mention of King-Rank. Even if there were, they would have sent their own subordinates to act, or it would have been a single word to the Ganwu Branch!

If it wasn't a King-Rank from the Ganwu Universe Kingdom, then it was from another universe kingdom. If so, King-Rank alone wouldn't be enough—even an Invincible King-Rank wouldn't cut it.

Even an ordinary Universe Venerable wouldn't be that bored. Did they really think the Ganwu Universe Lord was just for show? Even if they were that bored, it still wouldn't be the Pinghai Company's turn!

Chen Qing yanked at his hair a few times. Going further up, those were the overlords and Universe Masters—but each of them had their own fixed slot. What a mess!

The problem was that the original story had no record of this. Was this person here but unrecorded? Or had they never come in the first place?

If it was the latter, the problem was huge. Wasn't this clearly targeting him? After all, the descent of the Primal Universe Will wasn't some common cabbage—and hell, there might even be the Original Ancestor passing messages inside it!

Just as Chen Qing's brows were about to knit together, the more he thought about it, the more it felt like it was aimed at him.

He stood up and paced back and forth, his face pale to the point of whiteness. Suddenly, the Green Lotus within his Origin Core trembled, and a cool, refreshing aura rose within his soul.

Chen Qing quickly calmed down and let out a long breath. If they hadn't come for me, then they haven't found me. If they haven't found me, there's no need to move rashly!

From Xu Xin's intelligence, even if someone had already searched here, they might still be searching now. If so, staying here was actually safer!

With that thought, Chen Qing finally relaxed and quietly watched the distant cluster of asteroids.

Panxi, oh Panxi. At most sixty years—don't you go pulling some kind of stunt on me too!