https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-368-Once-Again-the-Cliff-of-Heaven-s-Fall/12551274/
Chapter 367: The Starship
Chapter 367: The Starship
"Blackmailing me?" Zhao Manying's face turned pensive at the thought.
"The place your father found..." Ji Daosheng had already learned the specifics through his mental connection with the pair and by invading Shi Renzhong's mind, making him the most informed among them.
He paused before continuing, "It's actually a starship."
Ji Xinghuo's eyes widened in surprise.
Zhao Manying was equally shocked. She knew her father had left her a set of coordinates, but she had never visited the location.
"A starship?"
"Indeed." Ji Daosheng confirmed, "Shi Renzhong only gained access to these secrets in the last few months. Shi Hongyi has dedicated significant resources and personal time over the years to locate the starship, but to no avail. He couldn't even open the starship's hatch."
The amount of information conveyed in these few sentences was overwhelming.
Ji Xinghuo recalled that the coordinates were within the True Dragon Dynasty, which meant that the starship was capable of interstellar travel, placing it at a minimum of a Level 6 civilization.
It could even be a Level 7 civilization!
In the entire galaxy, the number of Level 7 civilizations could be counted on one's fingers.
How did a starship end up in the territory of the True Dragon Dynasty? Was it just passing through, or did it crash-land due to a malfunction? Or could it have originally belonged to the True Dragon Dynasty?
Moreover, there were Eclipse Variants on the starship!
Zhao Ke must have obtained the Variants from the starship, which meant he had entered it, while Shi Hongyi was unable to do so.
Putting himself in Shi Hongyi's shoes, Ji Daosheng reasoned that he would suspect the issue lay with Zhao Ke. With Zhao Ke dead and his daughter displaying extraordinary talent, even without knowing about the existence of "Quantum Intellect," one would guess that she had some connection to the starship.
Therefore, before entering the starship, Shi Hongyi refrained from making a move against Zhao Manying.
By the time he wanted to act, Zhao Manying had already become famous worldwide, making it impossible to act recklessly. Moreover, she had also found herself a powerful boyfriend.
As a result, Shi Hongyi had no choice but to shift his target to Zhao Cangming.
Zhao Manying also understood the underlying reasons. In a cold voice, she said, "If Shi Hongyi thinks he can find a way to enter the starship through my younger brother, then he's made a miscalculation. He doesn't even know the true cause of my father's death."
"Shi Hongyi will realize that soon enough," Ji Xinghuo said.
Zhao Cangming was only an intermediate Variant, so there was no need for harsh interrogation methods. All they needed was a super mental hacker to perform a mental interrogation, and all his secrets would be laid bare.
"His true target is still you," Ji Daosheng said.
"The information my father left behind didn't mention anything about a starship, nor did he tell me how to get in," Zhao Manying shook her head.
"Shi Hongyi won't believe that," Ji Daosheng sighed and turned to Ji Xinghuo, "After Zhao Cangming's disappearance, you shouldn't have confronted Shi Hongyi directly. While your straightforward approach brought temporary satisfaction, it also exposed a lot of information."
"I was indeed lacking in consideration..." Ji Xinghuo regretted his decision as well.
He had already thought of this on their way there.
In fact, when they arrived at the Shi Ying Group building and found Shi Hongyi, Ji Xinghuo hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to take action.
By showing up at his doorstep to demand a person, they were essentially telling Shi Hongyi that Zhao Manying knew her father's death was suspicious, that she considered the Shi family as enemies, and that she possessed something her father had left behind.
If Shi Hongyi had any doubts before, he was now completely certain.
However, Zhao Manying didn't seem to mind. "He kidnapped Cangming, and I can't keep pretending. Sooner or later, I will have to face him. Blood debts must be paid in blood." Her face was solemn as she continued, "The urgent task now is to rescue Cangming."
She turned to Ji Daosheng, her eyes pleading.
"That's difficult..." Ji Daosheng shook his head helplessly, "Shi Hongyi deliberately chose a foreign stargate. By now, Zhao Cangming has already left Olympia. The Starry World is not like Earth; our surveillance and tracking capabilities are very limited there."
The Starry World was vast and infinite, making it extremely challenging to find a person.
Even with the power of a nation, it would be a daunting task, let alone the fact that Shi Hongyi had planned this for a long time, leaving almost no room for mistakes.
"I'm going to the True Dragon Dynasty!" Zhao Manying stood up, "To find that starship..."
"No!"
Ji Daosheng immediately stopped her.
He patiently advised, "I understand your urgency, but if you go to the True Dragon Dynasty, you'll be walking right into Shi Hongyi's trap. He's been exploring the area where the starship is located for seven or eight years, and we don't know if there are other forces involved. You must not act rashly."
Zhao Manying fell silent.
Although Ji Xinghuo didn't voice his opinion, he also didn't support Zhao Manying's decision to go to the True Dragon Dynasty.
Her talent was extraordinary, and her potential was limitless, but she was still only a super Variant. Against an enemy of the King level, she had no chance of victory. Moreover, she had never ventured into the Starry World before, and going to the True Dragon Dynasty would only multiply the dangers.
"I understand how you feel," Ji Daosheng's voice was calm and trustworthy, "I believe you will receive a blackmail letter soon, forcing you to go to the Starry World. When that happens, you must stay calm and composed."
Zhao Manying nodded slightly but remained silent.
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Zhao Manying was grateful, but her face still held a worried expression.
Ji Xinghuo understood her thoughts and said gently, "Cangming has been growing up under your protection. This time, if he can get through this calamity, it won't be a bad thing for him. He can't hide behind his sister his entire life. He's a man, and he needs to face reality and learn to grow."
"I know, sigh..." Zhao Manying wanted to say more but stopped, unsure of how to explain things to her mother.
She did not ask the President to directly deal with Shi Hongyi.
Because that was not realistic.
There was no evidence of Shi Hongyi's wrongdoing, and as the leader who had founded the nation, he had always emphasized equality before the law. He could not afford to destroy the legal foundation and the order he had established.
In this country, many people could act willfully, especially some powerful mutants who only needed to bear the consequences.
Only the President could not afford to do so.
Moreover, Shi Hongyi was no ordinary man. As the King and the richest man in the country, his influence was immense.
The President personally confirming Shi Hongyi's schemes was already the biggest help. With the most powerful backing, no matter what Shi Hongyi did in the future, there would be official forces watching him, preventing him from acting recklessly.
However, taking revenge ultimately depended on herself!
"Xinghuo, you shouldn't enter the Starry World in the near future as well. There's more than just Shi Hongyi keeping an eye on you, and there are people who are even more difficult to deal with." Ji Daosheng warned, "You made the right decision by not going to the Asuncion Stargate."
Ji Xinghuo's heart skipped a beat, "I understand."
"You two should leave now." Ji Daosheng waved his hand, "Be careful and come to me if you have any concerns. Don't act impulsively."
The two got up and left.
Ji Xinghuo returned to the maglev car, and Zhao Manying said, "Let's go to my mom's place."
The car sped along the superconducting highway, and both of them remained silent. Zhao Manying's gaze out the window was slightly dazed.
Ji Xinghuo did not disturb her thoughts, his electromagnetic senses constantly scanning their surroundings.
A moment later.
The maglev car pulled into a parking lot, which was Zhuo Yanran's residence. Ji Xinghuo's electromagnetic senses located her position; she was alone and safe. He and Zhao Manying got out of the car, but suddenly, Ji Xinghuo stopped.
Ji Xinghuo looked towards a nearby car, where a man in his thirties sat in the driver's seat.
The man was ordinary-looking.
After seeing Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying, he also got out of his car and walked over expressionlessly. He opened his palm towards Zhao Manying, revealing a bloody finger.
Zhao Manying's face changed.
Ji Xinghuo also stared at the man, who was a super mutant, but not very strong. He did not seem to be hiding anything.
"I give you 12 hours to set off for the True Dragon Dynasty's Xu Ye Province, or else bear the consequences."
After speaking, the man threw the finger towards Zhao Manying.
Boom!
Before Ji Xinghuo could react, the man's body self-destructed into a cloud of bloody mist and then ignited violently. In the blink of an eye, he was burned to a crisp, leaving only a small amount of ashes as proof that someone had been there.
"A clone." Ji Xinghuo said in a low voice.
He was familiar with such means of delivering a message and then disappearing without a trace.
Zhao Manying reached out and picked up the finger, examining it for a few seconds, "This is indeed Cangming's finger."
Her voice was devoid of any emotion.
However, Ji Xinghuo could hear the raging anger beneath her calm exterior. He had never seen Manying so furious.
"I'll report this to the President."
Ji Xinghuo made a call and informed Ji Daosheng of what had just transpired while keeping a close eye on Zhao Manying. Surprisingly, before he even finished the call, Zhao Manying had already regained her composure and put away the finger.
"Tell the President that I won't be going to the True Dragon Dynasty." Zhao Manying said.
Ji Xinghuo nodded.
The two of them went upstairs and met with Zhuo Yanran, who anxiously asked, "Manying, what's the situation? I saw on the news that you had a conflict with Shi Hongyi. Is this related to Cangming's disappearance?"
"That was a misunderstanding." Zhao Manying shook her head.
Her face revealed nothing, and she explained, "I've already reported it to the police. The Ministry of Public Security believes that Cangming was afraid you wouldn't agree to let him go to the Starry World, so he went through the Asuncion Stargate with his friends."
"That little rascal has never listened since he was young!"
Zhuo Yanran scolded and then worried, "Sigh, he's only an intermediate mutant. If something happens to him in the Starry World..."
"Cangming is not a child anymore. Since he dared to enter the Starry World, he must have had a plan. We don't need to worry too much. He will come back to Earth after he's had his fill of adventure." Zhao Manying reassured her mother.
Ji Xinghuo remained silent.
He understood that Zhao Manying did not want to worry her mother, so she was not telling her the truth. As a mother, Zhuo Yanran would only be more heartbroken if she knew the truth and was powerless to change anything.
(End of Chapter)
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