Materials

Li Jingliu nodded, turned, and walked out of the imperial study.

The door slowly closed behind him with a dull thud.

Once again, Li Chengyuan was the only one left in the imperial study.

He opened his eyes and looked at the enormous star map on the wall. The deep-purple regions on it had already shrunk considerably over the past year.

And next, they would shrink faster, and by even more.

Perhaps before long, the Southern Martial Star Realm would fall from a quasi-first-rate civilization on the Astral Battlefield to a second-rate force dependent on the Federation.

Perhaps it would fare even worse.

But at least the Southern Martial Star Realm would still exist.

That was all he could do as emperor.

Li Chengyuan lifted his teacup and took a sip.

The tea was still hot.

Over the next few days, the Southern Martial Star Realm's intelligence network went into a frenzy.

Early the next morning, Li Chengyuan's memorial of surrender was sent to the Star Origin Federation. At the same time, the court's liaison officer set out with Li Chengyuan's personal letter to find Xu Wuyi.

The letter's contents were simple: the Southern Martial Star Realm accepted every condition proposed by Grandmaster Xu. The finished artificial energy cores and all technical documentation would be provided unconditionally. Please inform us of the time and place for the handover.

The liaison officer was a middle-aged man surnamed Zhao. He had worked for the Southern Martial Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over twenty years, with ample experience and a smooth way of handling matters.

But this time, his hands shook when he set off.

Not from fear, but from nerves.

The man he was going to meet was the most terrifying existence in the entire Second Astral Battlefield. A man who