Changes

In the Virtual Universe, Chen Qing stood at the entrance of Nine Star Bay and looked into the distance. The scenery here had remained unchanged for decades, giving him the feeling that time itself had stopped.

"Why aren't you coming over?"

Jiang Fang's gentle voice brought Chen Qing back to his senses. Looking at the two beautiful women, so different in style, he smiled and opened his arms.

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

"What naughty things are you thinking about now?"

Yao Rao's voice circled around his ear, making him feel as though a little cat were scratching at his heart. He couldn't help tightening his arms around them.

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

They didn't even have their natural fragrance here. The Virtual Universe gets a bad review for that. I should suggest it to the City Lord if I get the chance!

Jiang Fang tilted her head and looked at Chen Qing, half amused and half exasperated. "You've only been in seclusion for a few days. How did it turn you into this?"

"It just came to me. But you just finished dealing with Purple Mist Planet, didn't you? What happened that was so urgent?"

"If you hadn't said that, I would've forgotten what we were here for. My sister's still waiting!" With that, the two quickly pulled away and took Chen Qing by the hand, leading him outside.

When they arrived at Luo Feng's home, Hong and Thor were already seated and waiting. Xu Xin was there, with Luo Hua sitting beside her.

There was no denying that Luo Hua had changed quite a bit compared with over a hundred years ago. At the time, Chen Qing had even wondered whether he should make himself more noticeable to him.

When Xu Xin saw that everyone had arrived, she asked them to take their seats. Her clear voice rang out.

"I called everyone together in such a hurry for two reasons. First, Krachi contacted the company and wants to give Purple Mist Planet to it.

"Second, an executive from the headquarters asked me why I was investigating the Fire Phoenix Organization. What do you think?"

As she finished, her eyes went straight to Chen Qing. Not just Xu Xin—all the others turned to look at him in unison.

What a mess! Chen Qing's hand moved to the table of its own accord, tapping lightly against it.

Luo Feng's cycle mission wasn't supposed to be assigned until decades after he'd gone out on his own, was it? Setting aside whether Luo Feng would choose to come back, which genius didn't spend thousands of years in a secret region?

With the Virtual Company's resources, there was no reason for them to focus on the Fire Phoenix Organization already! Had his little operation drawn the attention of people higher up in the company?

Damn it, I'm only a third-level Domain Lord. Do I have to charge in already?

Panxi wasn't the problem. Its plant life was at Peak World Lord level, and it was so huge. I'd better not get myself killed charging in!

But one thing was certain to Chen Qing: the Virtual Company wouldn't take the Fire Phoenix Organization's side!

"Sister-in-law, if the headquarters asks, just tell them directly. The company manages such a huge population. There's no need to worry about where it stands."

Xu Xin nodded. "That's what I thought, too. The executive said that if we need help, they can lend us a hand."

"Whoa, so we've got someone backing us?" Thor exclaimed, startling Chen Qing.

"Second Brother, take this seriously. I don't have anyone backing me!"

Unfortunately, no one believed Chen Qing. The whole thing was suspicious. They'd put up with it for tens of thousands of years, but the moment he took action, suddenly they couldn't stand it!

Hong frowned, then quickly relaxed. Hadn't he come back because he trusted Chen Qing? It wasn't a bad thing, so what was there to worry about?

Chen Qing ignored Thor's antics and didn't know what to say. In the end, Jiang Fang was the one to speak up for justice.

"It probably wasn't him. With the shamelessness he showed when he borrowed money back then, if he had connections, he wouldn't have treated himself so poorly!"

"..."

"Whatever the case, as long as it's good news. Sister-in-law, you must have had another reason for calling us here, right?"

At Hong's question, Xu Xin nodded. "When we discussed this before, we planned to acquire as much of the mining business as possible, and to give up the rest so the local forces wouldn't pay too much attention to us.

"Now that the headquarters has given us a clear hint, the team recommends bringing in the Ganwu Commerce Department. Then we can sweep the whole place clean!"

Xu Xin swept her hand outward, then slowly curled her fingers into a fist. Everyone understood what she meant.

"I don't mind. As long as there's a fight!"

"I don't mind either, as long as Panxi's mine. Ow!"

Chen Qing grabbed Yao Rao's little hand and hurriedly changed the subject. "As for Purple Mist Planet, Big Brother, you fought to take it. We might as well claim it!"

When Xu Xin looked over at him, the silhouettes of the planet's original inhabitants flickered through Hong's mind.

"If it won't affect them, then let's take it."

"Don't worry, Big Brother. The Field Family stands out too much on Cuilang Planet. We'd planned to buy a life planet as our base anyway, so this works out perfectly!"

"Good. We'll do as Sister-in-law says. But what about Fourth Brother..."

"Buy me some time. I still need a while. After all, I'm a third-level World Lord!"

Hong felt a dull ache in his teeth. The three women rolled their eyes. He had the nerve to call someone else a World Lord, when he was barely anything himself.

They trusted one another, so they didn't call him out directly. Besides, saying someone higher up was backing them was a more plausible explanation!

Luo Hua, sitting to the side, looked around before quietly adding, "We could start by harassing them, then have the financial side move in. The Fire Phoenix Organization is illegal, but it has deep ties to the forces in the Cuilang Star Sector, so there's plenty of room to maneuver!"

After they had arranged everything and he'd spent a while being affectionate with the two women, Chen Qing exited the Virtual Universe. His expression immediately darkened.

He went over everything that had happened in the past few years, comparing it with his memories, but couldn't find anything he'd missed.

He knew whether anyone higher up was backing him. If anything, it would be Luo Feng—and he was still on a mission in Xueluo World!

And if the message to look after them had come straight from the top, without going through the Ganwu Branch, then the Ganwu Universe Lord certainly wouldn't have taken the Commerce Department's Purple Lightning Marquis seriously!

That meant it had to be at least a King-Rank powerhouse. The original story never mentioned any King-Rank figures in the Ganwu Universe Country. Even if there were any, they would've sent their own subordinates, or simply contacted the Ganwu Branch. Either would've been a simple matter!

If it wasn't a King-Rank powerhouse from the Ganwu Universe Country, then it had to be from another Universe Country. In that case, an ordinary King-Rank powerhouse wouldn't be enough—not even an Invincible King!

An ordinary Venerable wouldn't care enough to get involved. Did they think the Ganwu Universe Lord was just a figurehead? And even if he did care enough, why would the matter involve Pinghai Company?

Chen Qing tugged at his hair several times. Above that level were the Overlords and Universe Masters, but they were all already spoken for. This was a real mess!

The problem was, the original story hadn't recorded anything about this person. Did that mean they'd come but never been mentioned, or that they hadn't come at all?

If it was the latter, then this was serious. It'd be obvious they were coming for him. The Primal Universe Will didn't just show up for no reason. Damn it, there might even be a message from the Original Ancestor involved!

Chen's brows were nearly knitted together. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that they were coming for him.

He stood up and paced back and forth, his face paling. Suddenly, the Green Lotus inside his Origin Core trembled, and a cool current flowed through his soul.

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

Judging from Xu Xin's information, even if someone was here, they'd already searched the area. They might still be searching now. If so, this place was actually safer!

At last, Chen Qing relaxed and quietly gazed at the distant asteroids.

Panxi, Panxi, you'd better not pull anything on me, too. Sixty years at most!