Meanwhile, images from Cloud Magnet Planet were broadcast live to the Central Galaxy via a military encrypted channel, where the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations monitored the situation in real time.
Seeing this, all three fell silent.
Bader let out a breath and said slowly, "Manison... we gave him too much freedom. We can tolerate other things, but he crossed the line."
The leader of the Arcane Sect, his eyes distant, said, "He always ignores our warnings, repeatedly challenging our authority. Now he even wants to seize strategic deterrent weapons, claiming it's to secure protection for the so-called Super A Tier. He simply wants to make us wary and gain equal footing in terms of discourse. In the future, he'll use this as leverage, attempting to take whatever he wants from us... This possibility must be nipped in the bud."
"I remember Black Star possesses an ability similar to High-Dimensional Apocalypse Teleporter. If he joins forces with Manison and takes the virus core, they can immediately break through the blockade and teleport away..." Bader turned to the silent Urranrell, his tone slightly emphasizing, "As long as he teleports away from the scene now with the virus core, from this moment on, we will assume that Black Star has mastered the Virtual Mutiny Virus technology... So, Your Excellency, what do you intend to do?"
Urranrell remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Now is not a good time for a purge. The Shattered World is under development, and the Supercluster Civilization is a threat. If we force Black Star and the Mechanic Emperor to rebel, they might bring the Virtual Mutiny Virus and defect to the Supercluster Civilization. That would be the real risk. We should try our best to avoid that step."
"Indeed, the Supercluster is a hidden danger. Logically speaking, now is not the right time for us to launch a major purge... But our compromises and tolerance should have limits, and we must not cross the bottom line in anything," Bader said in a deep voice.
The leader of the Arcane Cult spoke solemnly, "Perhaps possessing a trump card to guarantee personal safety is a reasonable demand for Beyond Grade A group, but we cannot ignore the threat this hidden danger poses to our dominance... I know that if Black Star or the Mechanic Emperor obtains the virus technology, as long as we don't provoke them, we can live in peace, and the worst-case scenario won't erupt for the time being... But a hidden danger is a hidden danger. Just because it doesn't erupt in the short term, can we close our eyes and pretend none of this has happened? We've developed to where we are today not by placing our hopes on others!"
Urranrell frowned and said in a low voice, "Do you understand what you're talking about? You're talking about a war that will sweep across all advanced civilizations in the universe, a purge that will last for decades or even centuries. Don't you understand the consequences?! Do you want to go back to the era of exploration?!"
"It's not about exploring the history. We are already the overlords, and no one can be above us. Perhaps this is an unprecedented chaos in the history of the Galaxy Era, but it can clear away all obstacles. This is better than watching the enemy grow and eventually become too powerful to control... A short pain is better than a long one." The Arcane Sect said calmly.
"What about the threat from the Supercluster?"
"If the Supercluster Civilization intends to use Virtual Mutiny Virus technology, then let's announce it to the entire universe. This is the best reason for war—the Supercluster Civilization disregards cosmic security and attempts to use such a highly dangerous weapon. To maintain order, we must purge them. This is an opportunity to directly dismantle all Supercluster Civilizations through war. Although it will be mutually destructive, nothing will be able to shake our rule afterward. Only through destruction can we rebuild... Once our adversaries are eliminated, we will have ample time to rectify our internal affairs."
Ruier pursed her lips, forcing out the words between her teeth. "Stability is paramount."
The leader of the Arcane Cult remained unmoved. "Our bottom line cannot be challenged."
The atmosphere became tense; disagreements are common at tripartite joint meetings.
Seeing the two locked in a tense standoff, Bader glanced around with a strange expression.
The usually radical Crimson Dynasty is now calling for stability, while the normally shady Arcane Church has turned into a war fanatic?!
Bader simply found the world truly wondrous.
He suppressed his surprise, coughed, and tried to smooth things over:
"The Chief has great courage. Since His Excellency the Imperial Head of State does not agree with the radical approach, perhaps we can try another method. Assuming that the Mechanic Emperor and Black Star succeed, we can compromise temporarily, but on the condition that they deal with the Supercluster Civilization. Once they are both weakened, we will settle accounts with both sides."
"That's wishful thinking." The leader of the Arcane Cult shook his head. "If the Mechanic Emperor were to acquire the technology, they would surely understand the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold' (meaning they would be vulnerable to attack from both sides). They wouldn't eliminate another potential customer, otherwise their bargaining chip would lose its greatest deterrent power."
Urranrell said with a stern face, "The situation is unclear now. Black Star has not yet agreed to join forces with the Mechanic Emperor. He is a sensible man, and I believe he will make a choice that is beneficial to the peace of the universe."
The leader of the Arcane Sect said calmly, "What if? Glory once valued the Mechanic Emperor's allies too much, which led to them becoming increasingly demanding and gradually losing control. With such a precedent, the Empire wouldn't continue to choose to protect Black Star just to avoid offending him, would it? The overall situation or the alliance needs to be chosen. Blindly trying to please them will only make them feel that you are becoming increasingly weak."
Upon hearing this, Urranrell closed his eyes, and after a while opened them, his eyes filled with indifferent light.
"I will naturally take countermeasures when that time comes."
For example?
"That's none of your concern, Master!"
Meanwhile, the standoff between the Cloud Magnet Planet continues.
As soon as Manison finished speaking, everyone present was stunned. They hadn't expected that Manison seemed to have the courage to hand over the core of the virus.
Han Xiao was also taken aback. He had only intended to tease and test the waters, but he hadn't expected Manison to actually agree.
Upon hearing this, Han Xiao hesitated, not responding immediately, his mind racing:
"Manison sought my cooperation not only to divert attention from other issues, but also because he valued my Sovereign Teleportation ability. Of everyone present, only I could easily carry the virus core out of the blockade zone. Old Manison is powerful, but with so many experts here, he probably doesn't have much confidence in breaking through, which is why he chose me..."
Han Xiao frowned and pondered. This body was Dominion's clone and was not equipped with Sovereign weapon. However, as long as he opened the Dimensional Factory, he could summon a spare mech from it, so it wasn't a problem.
Manison's move was a double-edged sword. If I agreed to his terms and left with the virus core, I would immediately become the target of everyone's criticism. By throwing the hot potato to me, Manison not only avoided a breakout but also absolved himself of the greatest dissatisfaction from the Three Universal Civilizations, making me bear the brunt of their discontent.
If I break the contract after obtaining the technology, I'll not only have to bear the pressure alone, but also the consequences of breaching the contract. Not only will I offend Manison, but my reputation among the Beyond Grade A members will plummet. Therefore, he figured I needed a partner to shift the pressure, and Old Manison, confident he could share the technology, was willing to take the gamble...
Han Xiao gritted his teeth inwardly. "He's plotting against me again. What a dirty heart!"
The two did not have a private conversation, but discussed it publicly. Manison's intention was clear: to divert attention from the conflict. Everyone present understood this, but some people still got anxious.
Seeing that Han Xiao was beginning to be persuaded, the imperial official, sensing the situation was turning sour, shouted loudly:
"Black Star! You need to think carefully about what you're doing!"
He couldn't help but be anxious. Although the fleet had activated the spacetime stabilization anchor, Black Star was the only one present who could teleport away without restriction.
Although both of them could run away but not escape their fate, if the Three Universal Civilizations did not retrieve the virus core on the spot and it was taken away by someone else, there would be endless troubles afterward.
Several Beyond Grade A mechanics shifted positions, subtly separating Manison from Han Xiao.
At this moment, Manison raised the virus core collection container, stared at Han Xiao, and spoke again:
"Black Star, I've always had high hopes for you. You should understand that this will be a Beyond Grade A talisman. We share the same ideals. Take it with you, and our future will be in your hands."
"Nonsense. Even though you're the association president, you're not qualified to make this decision on behalf of all Beyond Grade A. Nobody needs your plans for the future." A faint crackle of electricity emanated from Kant as he turned to Han Xiao. "Black Star, don't be fooled by him. Hoarding the virus core won't bring us protection; it will only bring annihilation."
Han Xiao hesitated.
Their own ideologies differ from those of the Mechanic Emperor. Their aim is to intervene in Super Calamity, preserve more human strength, and thus prepare for the future World Tree Civilization.
Meanwhile, Manison's ambition to strengthen the Super A Tier and make the entire class his backer, and his acquisition of the Domino Virus technology, likely stemmed from another intention: to use so-called security guarantees to unite other Beyond Grade A more closely around him, making them follow his lead.
In his previous life, Manison most likely intercepted the Domino Virus, but he didn't use it in the World Tree War, revealing his ambition—even when the Explored Universe was threatened by external enemies, he still didn't reveal his trump card, clearly intending to use it on the Three Universal Civilizations.
Han Xiao looked around, taking in everyone's expressions.
Is the Domino Virus really a talisman? Not necessarily; it might be a death knell.
How could the Three Universal Civilizations willingly submit to others? Using this bargaining chip to coerce the other side would not only result in compromise, but more likely in Three Universal Civilizations determination to eliminate the enemy at any cost.
Most of the time, the Three Universal Civilizations will consider the bigger picture, but that doesn't mean the other side will make Infinite concessions. Only when the power is equal can strategic deterrence weapons achieve a balance of power. But if one side has overwhelming power, it's hard to imagine them allowing outsiders to use weapons that can threaten them at will.
If they were to obtain Domino Virus technology, they could unleash devastating damage on the entire universe and set interstellar society back several eras. Therefore, they might feel that the Three Universal Civilizations must compromise and appease them... But this is precisely the source of the Three Universal Civilizations' determination to eliminate the threat.
Even if he had no intention of causing trouble, people can change, and the Three Universal Civilizations would not be willing to take such a risk.
From Han Xiao's perspective, it doesn't seem like a big deal that the Three Universal Civilizations are just sitting idly by while they possess Domino Virus technology. As long as everyone remains restrained, it seems like no one is losing anything, and it looks like a minor matter that won't escalate.
However, this was merely wishful thinking on their part. The Three Universal Civilizations had their bottom line: they could tolerate others' greed for profit, but they would never allow anyone to threaten their dominant position.
In the current situation, if you ignore the warnings and take away the virus's core, no matter what you say afterward, the Three Universal Civilizations will assume that you have the intention to overthrow their rule or even take their place.
If things really came to a head, Han Xiao didn't think the other Beyond Grade A would be willing to stand on his side.
He knew perfectly well that everyone had their own agenda, and the so-called overwhelming support was only because it aligned with the interests of the majority. But now, no one was prepared to turn against the Three Universal Civilizations. At that time, there would be far more people who would choose to protect themselves than those who would stubbornly stick to one path.
At that time, I and the Mechanic Emperor might be seen as black sheep, becoming heretics to be ostracized... Most of the time, the side with more people can represent their class.
The consequences of a complete breakdown in relations will have far-reaching effects. The Black Star Army's territory in the Shattered World will be reclaimed, civilizations will cease providing any resource channels, private conglomerates will collectively withdraw their investments and terminate cooperation, the Legion's financial accounts will be frozen, making it impossible to buy or sell any resources through normal channels, countless Legion warriors will resign and leave, and the Legion's business will shrink dramatically... All it takes is for the Three Universal Civilizations to issue a single notice to cause this outcome, and all benefits obtained from the higher civilizations will vanish.
--We are all part of the interstellar society, and those who are willing to stand with the Black Star Army against the Three Universal Civilizations must be a very small minority.
After all, most people are just ordinary people, and they shouldn't be criticized for choosing to protect themselves.
Han Xiao's eyes flickered, his joking expression vanished, and he said in a deep voice:
"You've gambled everything on us."
"I was only thinking about the bigger picture."
Manison spoke calmly.
Han Xiao remained silent for a long time before suddenly launching an attack.
Buzz!
A surge of void energy suddenly erupted, sweeping out and enveloping the area. Everyone present felt the space become incredibly stagnant, like a swamp.
Void Domain Prison!
Due to the influence of the spacetime stabilization device, the strength, duration, and range of this ability have been greatly reduced, but it is still barely sufficient.
Within this area, only Han Xiao's movements were unrestricted. With a swift movement, he passed through the encirclement around him, instantly flying to Manison's side, grabbing the virus core with one hand, and immediately retreating to the side.
"Black Star!!"
The domain was removed, and everyone quickly surrounded Han Xiao.
All eyes turned to him, their gazes filled with a complex mix of emotions—anger, worry, anxiety, and more.
"It seems you've thought it through. You're a smart man, don't disappoint me." Outside the crowd, Manison watched Han Xiao.
"Black Star, don't do anything foolish." The inspectors, including Sidrun, were visibly alarmed.
Han Xiao ignored everyone else, examining the virus core in his hand and gently stroking the container to confirm it was genuine.
With so many Beyond Grade A experts watching, there's no possibility of the switch going unnoticed.
As he played with the virus's core, he suddenly had the illusion that he wasn't holding a physical object, but rather the fate of countless people in this universe.
The course of history may depend on a single thought.
At this moment, Han Xiao raised his head, met the tense gazes of the crowd, and slowly spoke:
"Before gambling, you must first see the risks. I'm sorry, perhaps I made a less than correct decision."
I just suddenly remembered something a woman once said to me...
She told me... "The universe, however vast, has an end, but ambition has no limit."
No sooner had he finished speaking than, to everyone's astonishment, Han Xiao's Mechanical Force burst forth and surged into the container.
The Mechanical Force, mixed with Virtual Soul attacks, completely eradicated the virus's core from both the soul and physical levels, reducing it to nothingness.
Click!
The fingers crushed the metal casing, and the empty container turned into pieces that fell to the ground.
At that moment, the scene seemed to freeze.
Everyone present, including the leaders of the Three Universal Civilizations who were watching the live broadcast, was stunned.
Everyone had considered many possibilities, but the current situation is completely beyond everyone's expectations.
Did Black Star destroy the virus's core?
This is insane! Why would anyone do this?!
Even if you don't want it, don't destroy it!
Manison's eyes suddenly flashed with dazzling electric light, and terrifying energy surged wildly, like a raging storm.
His deep, resonant voice echoed powerfully throughout the heavens and earth, each word distinct and deliberate:
"Do you know what you've done?!"